Midtown Dallas will host a "National Night Out" block party Tuesday evening. The Midtown Improvement District covers 1,200 acres northeast of Downtown Dallas including the Shops at Park Lane, Upper Greenville and other businesses and homes northeast of the Highway 75/Loop 12 interchange.
The event will include free food from Back Country BBQ, crafts, entertainment and the opportunity to meet private security, Dallas Police and DART Police officers.
"It gives us a chance to see them as people," says Shannon Freeman, co-executive director of Midtown Dallas Inc. "I know a lot of times, we see them in emergency situations that are very, very serious versus this very relaxed, very fun opportunity for the community to see them in a light they don't often get to see them."
Freeman says people can talk to officers about what they do and the roles different departments and private security play. She says Night Out can give people a chance to get to know law enforcement outside a time of crisis.
"It's a building block for the community," she says. "It builds value and builds community. It's about resources and thanking first responders."
The president of The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center will also speak at the event.
"They have a clinic, they have support, they have a section for people who just come in nightly who have not really committed, they have a place for people who have committed and are in their long-term or short-term programs," Freeman says. "I was really surprised to see just how big it is and how impactful it is."
Freeman says families can bring kids to the event to show them police are there to help. Among activities are facepainting, a DJ and giveaways.
She says Midtown is growing quickly, so Night Out can also introduce people new to the neighborhood to the types of businesses and different cultures nearby.
"This is a huge melting pot," she says. "We are literally the densest area in the city. One of our schools encompasses more than 40 languages spoken there."
Midtown National Night Out is Tuesday from 5 pm to 7 pm at Vickery Park Branch Library:
8333 Park Lane
Dallas, TX 75231
A presentation by The Bridge, Dallas Police Northeast Patrol and other security will start at 6. More information is available at https://midtowndallasinc.com/.