S. Florida Communities Ready For National Night Out

MIAMI (CBS4) -- Residents across South Florida plan to take over the streets Tuesday night for the 28th Annual National Night Out.

The program is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Last year's National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 37 million people participated in National Night Out 2010.

Homeowners are encouraged to leave on their front lights as a sign of support.

In South Florida, police agencies from Key West to Deerfield Beach will participate in the National Night Out Against Crime.

The City of Miami has organized a large event called "Miami's Stand Against Crime." It takes place at Bayfront Park, located at 301 N. Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. There will be free food, entertainment, information and plenty of fun.

North Miami has organized three National Night Out Against Crime events featuring music, food, and children's activities at all locations.

West Event
Sunkist Grove Community Center
12500 NW 13th Avenue
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Contact: (786) 400-3811

Central Event
North Miami Senior High
13110 NE 8th Avenue
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Contact: (786) 487-1157

East Event
Block Party at Beth Moshe Congregation
2225 NE 121st Street
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Here is a listing of other events:

Gulfstream Park
901 S. Federal Highway
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
There will be a K-9 pursuit demonstration, enactment of a SWAT hostage situation and crime scene investigative science. Kids will learn how to dust and lift fingerprints and can have their own prints and DNA taken. Detectives will show how a photo lineup works and other departments will be on hand to talk about crime prevention and safety.

Davie
Up to 30 different homeowner associations are participating in events and five communities will be visited by Davie police. The door knocks will be followed by a pool party in Country Creek with McGruff the crime fighting dog, popcorn, snow cones and badges for kids.

Hollywood
Playland Estates Civic Association will be at the Fire Department Training Center, next to the Oak Lake Park at 3400 56th Avenue between Sheridan Street and Stirling Road from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.  The community is welcome to enjoy free hot dogs, pop corn, pizza and drinks as well as a bounce house for children. Crime watch and community protection information will be available. For more information call Rodney or Susan Edwards at 954-558-4002.

Margate
The Margate Police Department puts on one of the largest events in Broward County, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. that includes helicopters from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Broward Sheriff; agents from the U.S. Secret Service and members of every branch of the military on hand. There will be free hotdogs and snow cones provided at the city sports complex, 1695 Banks Road.  Broward County Crime Stoppers will also do fingerprint ID and DNA kits.

North Lauderdale
The Broward Sheriff's Office will host from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Riverside Christian Fellowship Church, Kimberly Square Shopping Center,  900 S.W. 71st Ave. with a DJ, bounce house, clowns, face painting, free raffles, BSO motorcycles, Duncun the Robot, free food and refreshments.

Sunrise
From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Sunrise Civic Center, 10440 W. Oakland Park Blvd. there will be a kids bounce house, face painting and ice cream. K-9 officers will put on a show, and McGruff will appear here, too. There will be free refreshments and live music.

Other BSO events:

Cooper City
10580 Stirling Rd.
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
The stars of Unleashed: K-9 Broward County will give a K-9 demonstration and sign autographs. Crime-prevention and safety information will be available, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will give a cyber-safety presentation, BSO mounted unit will be present and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue will talk about fire safety.

Dania Beach
C.W. Thomas Park
800 N.W. 1st St
6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
There will be food, refreshments, games, a bounce house, music and giveaways.

Deerfield Beach
Quiet Waters Park
401 S. Powerline Rd.
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
There will be live music, free food, raffle prizes, bounce houses and more.

Fort Lauderdale
Delevoe Park
2520 N.W. 6th Street
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Festivities will include crime prevention presentations, gifts for the kids and adults, free food, and refreshments.

Lauderdale by the Sea
El Prado Park
4500 El Mar Drive
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Interactive display of BSO bomb truck and robot;  SWAT vehicle; motorcycles, ATVs, bicycles and a Segway.

Lauderdale Lakes
Vincent Torres Memorial Park
4331 N.W. 36 Street
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
This year's event will include music, prizes, food, non-alcoholic beverages, children's fingerprinting, a demonstration by the Broward Sheriff's Office Lauderdale Lakes Fire Rescue, and a special appearance by Miami Heat forward James Jones, the NBA's 3-Point Shoot Out champion.

Oakland Park
Collins Community Center
3900 N.E. 3rd Ave
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
For kids there will be a bike rodeo, bike helmets, school supplies, music, games and free food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Parkland
Parkland's Public Safety Building
6650 University Drive
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
With the City of Parkland and Coral Springs Fire Rescue, there will be SWAT displays and vehicles from the bomb squad and fire-rescue.

Pompano Beach
Founders Park
215 N.E. 4th Avenue
6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
BSO vehicle displays, free child fingerprinting, a special appearance from the Police Women of Broward County, Miami Dolphins cheerleaders, live music, free food, giveaways and more.

Southwest Ranches
Southwest Ranches Equestrian Park
5840 S.W. 148th Ave.
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Tamarac
Mainlands 1 & 2 Clubhouse
4510 Mainlands Drive
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

The Bermuda Club Condominium Clubhouse
6299 N.W. 57 St. 
7:15 p.m.
At both locations: free refreshments, crime prevention information and giveaways.

Weston 
17300 Royal Palm Blvd.
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

West Park/Pembroke Park
3201 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd.
 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office will have events in Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon and on Stock Island. Free food and refreshments will be available.

Key Largo: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Murray Nelson Government Center, bayside, 102mm  U.S. 1.

Islamorada: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Founder's Park.

Marathon: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  at Marathon Community Park. Free food and refreshments offered to residents will be able to meet members of the Sheriff's Office, Marathon Fire Rescue and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Stock Island: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Bernstein Park with animals from the Sheriff's Office Animal Farm joining the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Highway Patrol, Border Patrol, Monroe County Fire Rescue, Key West Fire Department, Key West Police and U.S. Navy.