Get to know your neighbors during National Night Out

Block parties and other gatherings that aim to bring communities together will pop up around the Richmond region tonight.

The annual National Night Out, which began in 1984, allows communities to "come together and stand united to demonstrate our common goals in ensuring that our communities remain safe and free from crime," said Hanover County Police Capt. Michael J. Trice.

Local events range from small -- such as a resident pool party at the Wellington Place Apartments in Sandston -- to large -- a Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation-sponsored countywide event at Bensley Community Center, 2900 Drewry's Bluff Road.

Last year, 37 million people in 15,449 communities in all 50 states participated in the event. National organizers estimate that nearly 16,000 communities will participate this year.

In Chesterfield, there are 130 registered block parties that will bring residents and law-enforcement officials together, while Richmond has 95 events scheduled, Henrico County has 57, Hanover has 48 and Petersburg has 12.

"It's an opportunity for people to get out and meet each other, which is something we try to promote in crime prevention," said Tim Lamb, a crime-prevention officer in Chesterfield. "I think the more people get out and talk to each other, the more comfortable they are with each other, and tend to watch out for each other a little bit better."

While the National Night Out promotes community togetherness -- some will have ice cream socials, face painting and clowns -- it also tackles the serious side of police work. Lamb said Chesterfield police hope it leads to more areas creating neighborhood-watch programs. In Hanover, events will feature fingerprinting, McGruff the Crime Dog and demonstrations by the county's dive team at area pools.

"It's an opportunity to interact with law enforcement at a time when you don't have to call them on a 911 call," Trice said.

Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or .