ST. LOUIS – Neighborhoods across St. Louis gathered Tuesday evening to celebrate National Night Out, fostering connections between residents and local law enforcement officials. Over 100 events were held throughout the St. Louis area, including Ferguson and Edwardsville, as community members enjoyed time with police officers and city officials.
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones attended one of the northside gatherings, expressing her excitement about engaging with the community.
“I’m looking forward to being in the community and with my constituents, hearing their concerns, and celebrating with them,” she said. “A lot of change is coming to (north St. Louis), so I’m just happy to be here with people in the community to celebrate that.”
The events provided an opportunity to strengthen community ties, coming after a summer marked by tension. One such incident was the assault on Ferguson police officer Travis Brown during a protest earlier this year.
“I think it shows how the city has always come together. Nights like this, and what this city has to offer, are second to none,” St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy said.
The celebration also highlighted progress, such as the upcoming Brickline Greenway North Connector, a public trail set to begin construction in spring 2025.
“We do everything with the community. We’re sharing iterations, we’ve got our design partners here with models, we’ve got art plans laid out,” Dallas Adams, communications manager for Great Rivers Greenway, said. “We’re here to inform the community, connect them with vendors and partners, and get excited about this public trail that’s coming through their community.”
National Night Out events featured free food, live music performances, DJ sets, bounce houses, and even a petting zoo. Local artists and vendors were also present, offering their goods for sale.
This national initiative aims to restore a sense of community, and the evening seemed to capture that spirit as officers, children, and neighbors shared moments of dancing, laughter, and fun.
