The City of Akron will host National Night Out (NNO) across the city’s 10 wards on Aug. 6.

The goal of the free event is to “strengthen participation in local programs that prevent and deter crime, in an effort to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live,” according to a news release from the city. 

Akron Mayor Shammas Malik’s spokesperson, Stephanie Marsh, said in an email this will be the city’s 23rd year observing NNO. The former East Akron Community House started observing NNO in the early 1990s but never officially registered the event with the National Association of Town Watch, the event’s sponsor. 

When Willa Keith, now retired, became community relations sergeant for the Akron Police Department, she officially registered the city through the mayor’s office, working with then-Community Relations Director Billy Soule, Marsh said.

The National Association of Town Watch states on its website that the event creates “a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.”

Activities will vary by location, but most ward locations will have snacks and refreshments, music and activities for kids.
 
“National Night Out is an important annual event in our city and I’m excited to celebrate the 41st anniversary,” said Akron Mayor Shammas Malik. “Building relationships between our residents and our public safety forces is so important to continuing to create trust and ongoing dialogue in our city.”  

Locations and times for each ward are as follows: 

  • Ward 1 – Church of Our Saviour (471 Crosby St.): 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Ward 2 – Patterson Park Sports Complex (955 Patterson Ave.): 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Ward 3 – Summit Lake Community Center (380 W. Crosier St.): 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Ward 4 – Hon. James R. Williams Lawton Street Community Center (1225 Lawton St.) 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Ward 5 – Joy Park Community Center (825 Fuller St.): 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Ward 6 – Ellet Community Center (2449 Wedgewood Dr.): 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Ward 7 – Firestone Park Community Center (1480 Girard St.): 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Ward 8 – Northwest Family Community Center (1730 Shatto Ave.): 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Ward 9 – Shadyside Park (1229 Kenmore Blvd.) 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Ward 10 – Linda Theatre (1745 Goodyear Blvd.) 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

Residents with questions can call 3-1-1.

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Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.