Downtown Grand Saline Set For National Night Out

GRAND SALINE—National Night Out in Grand Saline returns Tuesday for its second year as a community-wide event in the city’s downtown park.

From 6:30-8:30 p.m., the public is invited to join a number of city and community organizations, police officers and firefighters for an evening of games, giveaways and food.

Grand Saline Chamber of Commerce Executive Administrator Lisa Morrison said she is looking forward to this year’s event.

"It is very easy to get people to participate for National Night Out," she said. "Even the people who do not have a booth planned are excited about it, the kids and parents are all excited."

National Night Out also serves a very important purpose for the community, Morrison added.

"It is not just a community block party, but also a way to get the word out about crime prevention. We are going to have fun, but there is a reason behind it, and that is to better educate the kids and parents about staying safe," she said.

National Night Out began as an effort to encourage neighbors to get to know one another via a block party one evening each year.

"When you know your neighbor, you tend to watch out for them and their property more," Morrison said.

Grand Saline has expanded on that idea, providing the downtown area for an event to allow citizens a chance to meet and talk with police officers, firefighters, city officials and members of organizations like the Main Street Program and Grand Saline FFA, as well as local businesses.

"It’s neat to see the people make the connections through an event like National Night Out," Morrison said.

City administrator Stephen Ashley said he thinks this year’s event will be even better than before.

"This year the park is filled in with grass, so more events can occur in the actual park area. We have several things that are going to happen down there," he said.

"The downtown park plays in pretty well for us to have that event," Ashley continued. "It is a well-lit area for people to gather and that is important when you are running an event from 6:30-8:30 p.m."

He said he is hopeful Grand Saline residents will take advantage and benefit from the chance to meet others.

"I think it’s going to be a good event and hopefully people will come out and meet our police, firefighters and other community members. If so, it will accomplish the goals it is set out to do. It’s about community and getting out and meeting the folks who are there to protect and serve," he said.