MORGAN PARK — All the staples of a great block party were there on Tuesday as Chicago Police in the Morgan Park District hosted National Night Out.
Fire trucks were on hand for curious kids. Bounce houses never stopped shaking. A DJ pumped out clean versions of favorite hip hop songs, and there was plenty of hot dogs and ice cream.
The event drew more than 170 children and adults to the street outside of the police station at 1900 W. Monterey Ave. in Morgan Park — up from 150 people last year, according to one of the police officers in attendance.
Sister Pat Mahoney of Beverly was among the organizers of the annual event. The chairwoman of the Morgan Park District CAPS advisory council has been securing donations for the local National Night Out festivities for nearly a decade.
"Crime is not a police problem. It is a community problem," Mahoney said.
She believes that events like National Night Out bring the neighborhood together and send a message to would-be criminals that residents are organized and unafraid.
"That's the purpose of this is to get people to talk to their neighbors," Mahoney said.
Roger Wiers of Morgan Park was babysitting his twin 6-year-old grandsons — Charlie and Will — on Tuesday. He brought them to the police station where they enjoyed face painting and a fishing demonstration.
"I think it's a great idea," Wiers said of the event.
Wiers has lived the bulk of his life in Morgan Park. He said the neighborhood is integrated, but there tends to be pockets where various groups cluster.
"There tends to be an 'up the hill, down the hill' thing here. This is the sort of thing that brings everyone together," he said.
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