Worcester’s National Night Out event brought residents together for entertainment, games and community connections Aug. 4 at Fuller Family Park on Murray Ave.
The event was organized by the Worcester Police Department and the Central Community Branch YMCA, with help from the Worcester Fire Department and several other local organizations.
During the event’s opening ceremony, City Manager Eric Batista thanked the vendors and organizations for their participation and contributions to the event and the city.
“This community is not who we are without all of you,” Batista said, adding that Worcester is one of the safest cities in the country. “That’s important to note, because often we forget how important it is to keep this city safe. Not only the police department, but the collective of individuals behind me play a role in doing so.”
Police Chief Paul Saucier praised officers Angela Lookwhy and John Alers, who organized the festivities, and highlighted the partnerships between police and residents that are the premise of the nationwide event.
“We’re here to listen to you, to work beside you, and to do whatever you need to get done to make sure we have a safe community,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern said he was pleased to see the turnout.
“This is what community looks like,” he said, “when people come together and care about each other, and want to create a safe place for their children to grow up. It is really a testament to this city’s vitality that people have come together to get behind this cause.”
State Sens. Robyn Kennedy and Mike Moore also lauded the support for the event.
“It’s not just about tonight,” Kennedy said. “Tonight we’re highlighting our community. It’s what’s happening every single day when we’re listening to our community, when we’re hearing what our community is calling on us to be doing, and when we’re doing better because of it.”
“I think this is what makes Worcester a great community – everyone works together, from government to the nonprofits, realizing that we have to be there as one resource for everybody,” Moore said.
Sheriff Lew Evangelidis said that while National Night Out is celebrated in hundreds of communities across the country, Worcester’s stands out.
“They don’t do it anywhere better than we do here in Worcester,” he said.
District Attorney Joseph D. Early said one would rarely see as many officers in one place unless there is an emergency.
“Truly the best way to fight crime is prevention,” he said. “[Police] are in the schools. We do work in terms of bullying, harassment, protecting our elders. We do work with the sheriff’s office all the time with the opioid crisis. These are the things that work. This is a night that we recognize, especially, the people who have chosen the noble profession of policing. Too often it’s criticism – it’s never what you see, when they’re relaxed and they’re smiling.”
YMCA Executive Director Danielle Delgado thanked everyone for coming together for a successful event.
“The Y is here for the community. We love the partnerships that we continue to build and to work with all the individuals who have come, lining our streets today. We partner with them in different ways,” she said.
Steve Smith can be reached at steve@stevephotographysmith.com
