National Night Out returns to Oak Park
Published on July 21, 2025
Following a brief one-year hiatus, the Oak Park Police Department is excited to once again host National Night Out, a community celebration that aims to strengthen partnerships and positive interactions between law enforcement and residents.
The free event will take place from 5 – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5 on the south lawn of Village Hall, 123 Madison St. Oak Park is one of more than 17,000 communities nationwide participating in the National Night Out campaign, which takes place annually on the first Tuesday of August.
National Night Out is a nationwide initiative established in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW). The event encourages residents to join forces with local law enforcement agencies to promote crime prevention efforts, neighborhood camaraderie, and the overall safety and well-being of our community. Oak Park hosted a National Night Out for the first time in 2023.
“National Night Out is an annual reminder of the importance of the connection between our residents and police department,” said Oak Park Police Chief Shatonya Johnson. “This is an opportunity for our officers to build meaningful relationships with those we serve, and to bring neighbors together in the spirit of safety, unity and respect. We had such a great time back in 2023 and cannot wait to run it back this summer.”
National Night Out will feature bounce houses, music, face painting, food and beverages. Residents can also get an up-close look at a Fire Department engine.
Information booths from departments within the Village and nonprofit community partners will be staffed to provide helpful information for residents.
Organizations or businesses interested in participating in the event should contact Officer Christine Simkus by emailing csimkus@oak-park.us.
For more information about the Oak Park Police Department, visit www.oak-park.us/police, call 708.386.3800 or email police@oak-park.us.
About Oak Park - The Village of Oak Park, located just nine miles west of downtown Chicago, offers a distinctive urban/suburban lifestyle in a thriving, multi-cultural community. Well-known for progressive values, tree-lined streets and bustling business districts, Oak Park serves as an ideal place to live, work and play. As a longstanding community of choice, the Village benefits from convenient access to local and regional transit, high-quality public schools, and arts and cultural attractions, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio and his acclaimed Unity Temple, which was recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.