National Night Out is held annually on the first Tuesday in August in communities across the country.
Three years after a mass shooting shattered a community outreach event at the Rainier Beach Safeway, the same parking lot became a focal point for community engagement and violence prevention.
The Seattle Neighborhood Group, in partnership with the Seattle Police Department, the Rainier Beach: A Beautiful Safe Place for Youth (ABSPY) Core Team and other community organizations, hosted a National Night Out event from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Safeway, 9262 Rainier Ave. S, in Seattle.
Organizers said the gathering is intended to strengthen relationships between residents, neighborhood groups and public safety agencies while reinforcing a community-led approach to reducing violence.
The event carries added significance because it will be held at the same location where five people were wounded in July 2023. Witnesses told officers dozens of rounds were fired into the crowd gathered for a free community event.
The shooting prompted renewed calls for tougher gun violence prevention efforts and a broader public safety strategy. Tuesday's event is designed to reflect that approach.
The event includes recreational activities, arts opportunities, a community garden workshop, a parking lot litter cleanup and demonstrations on crime prevention through environmental design.
Residents will also be able to meet neighborhood leaders, block captains, Seattle police officers and community organizations working in Rainier Beach.
Free food, music, live entertainment and family-friendly activities are also planned.
National Night Out is held annually on the first Tuesday in August in communities across the country.
