National Night Out: Over 30 Block Parties Planned In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Here's a reason (if you need one) to throw a block party. Police and neighborhoods across Alexandria are celebrating National Night Out, an annual "neighborhood watch" kind of effort focusing on crime prevention. The event is Tuesday, Aug. 1, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Police Chief Michael Brown Members of City Council, City Manager Mark Jinks, and other officials will visit residents throughout Alexandria.

In addition, Alexandria Police's K-9 Unit, Motor Unit, Bike Patrol, Command Bus, Armored Personnel Carrier, and Crime Scene Mobile Lab will visit and offer demonstrations.

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While safe neighborhoods are a common goal among Alexandria residents, the event provides an opportunity for residents to meet each other and share their ideas and concerns. Alexandria Police describe the event as a platform to "strengthen neighborhood spirit and law enforcement community partnerships and send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back."

Around 30 neighborhoods are hosting cookouts and block parties. Here are the locations and times:

• 1400 to 1600 blocks of Oakcrest Dr. 6:30-9:30 p.m.
• 413 E. Howell St. 5-9 p.m.
• 500 block of E. Luray St. 6:30-10 p.m.
• Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Quaker Hill Apartments Quaker Hill Community Center - 1100 Quaker Hill Dr. 5-8 p.m.
• Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Charles Houston Recreation Center - 901 Wythe St. (parking lot) 5-8 p.m.
• Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Ladrey Highrise – 300 Wythe St. 5-8 p.m.
• Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Princess Square - 1108 Cameron St. (rear parking lot) 5-8 p.m.
• Arlandria (The Conservatory at Four Mile Run) - 4109 Mt. Vernon Ave. 5:30-8:30 p.m.
• Armistead Boothe Park - 520 Cameron Station Blvd. (Rainy weather location: Cameron Station Clubhouse, 200 Cameron Station Blvd.) 5-7 p.m.
• Brent Place - 375 S. Reynolds St. 5-7 p.m.
• Canterbury Square - 5201 Duke St. (between 20 and 22 Canterbury Square next to the pool) 6-8:30 p.m.
• Clover-College Park Civic Association - 1000 block of Vassar Dr. (between Yale Drive and Cambridge Road) 6-8 p.m.
• Del Ray Citizens Association - 2701 Commonwealth Ave. and adjacent fields 5-7 p.m.
• Edsall Bluff, Pool deck - 6135 Edsall Rd. 6:30-10 p.m.
• Fairlington Towne Unit Owners Association - (across from 2306 N. Dearing St.) 6-8 p.m.
• Green House Condominiums - 5300 Holmes Run Pkwy. 6-7:30 p.m.
• Hermitage of Northern Virginia - 5000 Fairbanks Ave. 4-6 p.m.
• Hopkins-Tancil / ARHA - 322 Tancil Ct. Ruby Tucker Family Center 5-8 p.m.
• Hume Springs Citizens Association, Hume Springs Playground Park - 100 Dale St. (park lies between W. Reed Ave. and Dale St.) 6-8 p.m.
• Lennox Place at Sunnyside Courtyard Common Area (intersection of Charles Ave., Shorter Ln. and Courtland Cir.) 6-9 p.m.
• Lincolnia Hills (Moody Court) 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Lloyd’s Apartments - 800 Tennessee Ave. (in front of rental office) 5-8 p.m.
• Lynhaven Gateway Park - 3525 Wilson Ave. 6-8 p.m.
• North Ridge Citizens Association, George Mason Elementary School - 2601 Cameron Mills Rd. 5:30-8:30 p.m.
• Park Place Condos - 2500 N. Van Dorn St. 6-8 p.m.
• Place One Condominiums - Van Dorn St. / 5500 Holmes Run Parkway 6-8:30 p.m.
• Seminary Civic Association - Cul de sac of Woods Ave., off the 1000 block of N. Quaker Ln. 5-7 p.m.
• Society Hill - 3806 Vermont Ct. & 3814 Usher Ct. 6-8 p.m.
• Stone Gate Foundation - 4659 Kinsey Ln. 6-8 p.m.
• The Exchange at Van Dorn - 4840 Eisenhower Avenue (area across from the pool and visitor parking) 6-8 p.m.
• Wakefield-Tarlington Association - Holmes Run Parkway between S. Jordan St. & S. Jenkins St. (secondary location – Tarleton Park at the intersection of Holmes Run Parkway & S. Jenkins St.) 6:30-9 p.m.
• Warwick Village Citizens Association - Landover Park - 3301 Landover St. 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Watergate at Landmark Community Center - 211 Yoakum Pkwy. 6-8 p.m.

National Night Out is in its 34th year.

Image via National Night Out