Easton Celebrates National Night Out

The people sitting around the picnic table in Easton's development Tuesday night were more than happy to talk about life in their new neighborhood.

They were less keen on talking about Delaware Terrace, the development that Neston Heights replaced.

"That's a dirty word," one of them joked.

These were new residents of the neighborhood, attending the first National Night Out since Neston Heights opened its doors.

A few dozen people gathered along the lawn outside the Easton Boys & Girls Club, eating, talking, listening to music and playing games. 

That's the idea behind National Night Out: to get people out in their neighborhoods, and getting to know each other, and thus make neighborhoods safer. 

"We're all very blessed to be here," said Kurt Splitt, manning the cotton candy machine at the Neston Heights gathering.

He and his partner Richard were among the first to move into Neston Heights. Richard lived in the neighborhood when it was Delaware Terrace.

"Fortunately, I didn't know what it was like," Splitt said.

"It was nothing but crime," said Richard.

Neston Heights was the scene of a fairly high-profile crime -- -- earlier this year. 

But residents say it's much safer and friendlier here these days.

"We're very community oriented and we want to keep it that way," said Splitt.

The Neston Heights gathering was one of many around the city. At Centennial Park, the daily Summer Nights program became more festive than ever, with kids jumping in a bouncy house, and local Cub Scout leaders spent time in the dunk tank.

On the South Side, on Berwick Street, where she served fried catfish, rice and beans and corn on the cob, kids gorged on cupcakes, and neighbors played games of quoits in the street.