Mendota Heights Area Neighborhoods Get Ready for Night to Unite

Residents in Mendota Heights, Mendota and Lilydale will gather Tuesday evening for Night to Unite, a citywide series of neighborhood gatherings intended to encourage greater communication between public safety workers and between neighbors.

Night to Unite is a popular alternative to the former National Night Out activities.

Police, fire and emergency services personnel from the area will be touring block parties and other neighborhood congregations in an effort to raise awareness about safety and crime prevention. Public safety personnel will begin visiting groups that registered from the three cities around 5:30 p.m.

The Mendota Heights Police Department estimated that 13 neighborhood groups will be participating in the 2011 Night to Unite.

Of the estimated thirteen neighborhood groups or associations the police department will visit Aug. 2, only one or two technically meet the requirements the police department ask of those who participate in Night to Unite. Many, like the gathering that will occur in the neighborhood represented by the Park Place Neighbors Association, are more or less block parties.

Residents use the night as a social event, finding that the visiting police officers and fire engine attract families with younger children.

“It’s billed more as a block party,” said Missy Hickey, who lives along a horseshoe block of approximately 50 homes located near Wachtler and Wentworth avenues. “ Last year we had a band and people were dancing in a circle. It was a lot of fun.”

“We’re an association, so we already have a pre-made community,” said Ann Ward, a 15-year resident in the neighborhood. “Night to Unite is a good opportunity to get to know our police officers, but we don’t do anything more about public safety issues,” she said.

“It’s definitely something we should address in our community though,” Ward said.

Mendota Heights Crime Prevention Officer Denise Urmann said that being proactive remains residents’ most effective crime prevention tool and will be stressed by officers during Night to Unite.

“What I want to see, as a patrol officer and a crime prevention officer, is more neighborhoods coming together before there’s an issue,” she said. “I want neighbors to know neighbors, I want neighbors to be able to email or call their neighbor and have conversations (about crime)."

Residents with questions about Night to Unite activities in Mendota Heights may contact Urmann at Deniseu@mendota-heights.com.