The St. Joseph Police Department is inviting the community to take part in a National Night Out event next week at Civic Center Park.

Sgt. Roy Hoskins with the Crime Prevention Unit, said the police department will hold National Night Out from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, August 1st at the park. The nationwide initiative is meant to promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood relationships to improve safety.

“It’s an opportunity for neighborhood watch members and other community members to come out and meet local law enforcement and meet other watch group members and community members,” Hoskins said. “Just to get a good dialogue going about some crime prevention things we can address here in the city.”

Hoskins said the annual event is sponsored by Target which will assist in providing games, food and drinks and coloring books for the kids.

“We really want anyone interested in being an active partner in their neighborhood or community to come out,” Hoskins said. “We would just like to get together and have a casual conversation about some things going on in the city.”