Turn a porch light on for National Night Out's 40th year

By KCAL-News Staff

August 1, 2023 / 11:26 AM / KCAL News

An evening bringing community and police together takes place Tuesday, August 1, where cities and neighborhoods across the country participate.

National Night Out was created 40 years ago, on the first Tuesday in August, and founder Matt Peskin said it started with people turning their front porch lights on, waving to each other up and down the street.

"Neighborhoods in the past were safer because everyone knew each other, you knew the cop on the beat and everybody looked out for each other," said Peskin. "Over time that's gotten lost."

It's the idea of community policing, where police can rely on the community and the community can rely on police. The event is meant to recreate and encourage neighborhoods of old, where people knew their neighbors and they knew their police officers.

"A night like this brings people out with local police in positive circumstances – it's not a burglary, it's not a traffic citation, it's not a medical emergency. Everyone is out to meet each other and have fun. That's what builds relationships and that's what builds safer neighborhoods," said Peskin.

Each community that participates does its own thing, from block parties and cookouts to parades and festivals.

Here are some of the National Night Out events taking place Aug. 1 in the L.A. area:

Baldwin Park: 5:30-8:30 p.m. 14403 E. Pacific Ave. www.facebook.com/BaldwinParkPD

Bell Gardens: 5:30-8 p.m. Veterans Park, 6662 Loveland St.

Beverly Hills: 6-9 p.m. 400 block of North Rexford Drive. tinyurl.com/y2x9kbev

Burbank Police Department: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Johnny Carson Park, 400 Bob Hope Drive, Burbank.

Downey: :30-8:30 p.m. Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Ave. tinyurl.com/2p8k9dnu

El Segundo: i n the 300 block of Main St. tinyurl.com/2s4c8h48

City of Gardena 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 1700 W. 162nd St. 310-217-9574. www.facebook.com/GardenaPolice.

Glendale Police Department: 5-7:30 p.m. Pacific Park and Community Center, 501 S. Pacific Ave. tinyurl.com/24c6bmdv.

Hawthorne: 5-8 p.m. Memorial Park, 3901 W. El Segundo Blvd. tinyurl.com/4f8jdr4u

Inglewood Police Department: 4-8 p.m. Location, Grevillea Art Park, 101 E. Kelso St.. www.cityofinglewood.org/1253/National-Night-Out

La Verne: Las Flores Park, 3175 Bolling Ave., La Verne.

Lakewood: 7-8:30 p.m. Mayfair Park, north parking lot, 5720 Clark Ave. tinyurl.com/a8r99cm2

Lawndale: 5-7 p.m. Civic Center Plaza, 14717 Burin Ave. Details: bit.ly/3b9cOmf

Long Beach: 6-8 p.m. Craftsman Village Park, 851 Orange Ave. tinyurl.com/3zs6a2xt.

Mission Hills: Brand Park, 15121 Brand Blvd. www.mhnconline.org/event/mission-hills-national-night-out/

Montebello Police Department: 6-9 p.m. Henry Acuna Park, 1700 W. Victoria Ave., Montebello.

Northridge: Northridge Recreation Center, 18300 Lemarsh Ave. northridgewest.org/event/devonshire-areas-national-night-out/

Panorama City: 5-8 p.m. Plaza Del Valle courtyard, 8610 Van Nuys Blvd. northhillseast.org/event/national-night-out-panorama-city

Pasadena Police Department: 5-7 p.m. Pasadena Police Department, 207 Garfield Ave. tinyurl.com/3bsbxjdd

Redondo Beach: 4-8 p.m. Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach.

Reseda: 6-10 p.m. Randall D. Simmons Park, corner of Vanowen Street and Wilbur Avenue, Reseda.

San Gabriel: 5-8 p.m. Mission District, 320 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel. Details: tinyurl.com/573z6ynn.

Sierra Madre: 5-8 p.m. Memorial Park, 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. www.facebook.com/sierramadrepolice/

South Pasadena: 6-9 p.m. Orange Grove Park, 815 Mission St., South Pasadena. southpasadenan.com/neighborhood-watch-newsletter-july-2023/

Sunland-Tujunga: 6-9 p.m. Little Landers Park, 10110 Commerce Ave. (at Valmont Street), Tujunga. www.stnc.org/page/viewNews/5366

Torrance: six locations, 6-8 p.m. Columbia Park (4045 190th St.); Hickory Park (2850 232nd St.); McMaster Park (3624 Artesia Blvd.); Paradise Park (5006 Lee St.); Seaside Aire Park (22851 Anza Ave.); Wilson Park (2200 Crenshaw Blvd.). www.facebook.com/TorrancePD

Valley Glen: 6-9 p.m. Whitsett Sports Complex, 6950 Whitsett Ave., Valley Glen. tinyurl.com/3rjhu8va

Valley Village: 6-8 p.m. Valley Village Park, 5000 Westpark Drive. www.myvalleyvillage.com/event/national-night-out-6/

West Hollywood: Several events take place, addresses and times here

The KCAL News Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on KCALNews.com and CBSLA.com.

First published on August 1, 2023 / 11:26 AM

© 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.