MUSCATINE, Iowa–Aug. 2, Muscatine families gathered at Taylor Park for the city’s first National Night Out. An opportunity for the Muscatine Police Department to get out in the community and build positive relationships through fun activities, the evening also gave families who have not visited Taylor Park since its recent renovation time to check out all its new additions.
After hearing about the success of National Night Out events in other cities over the past 40 years, Lieutenant Ryan Buss shared that the Muscatine Police Department wanted to try it out locally to see if it would engage families. As they searched for a location, Talor Park presented itself as a natural fit: “When we discussed where National Night Out should take place, Taylor Park came to mind. The city recently completed a renovation of the park, and we wanted to highlight the splash pad and pickleball courts that are available to the community,” he explained. “It’s a beautiful new addition to the city.”
Throughout the evening, residents could stop out to the park, enjoy food from Hy-Vee and shaved ice, test their hand at a dunk tank, play games with community partners, play in bounce houses, participate in a bike rodeo and raffle for a new bike, enjoy music and a live DJ, and see emergency vehicles up close, including a MedForce helicopter. Members of the Muscatine Police Department also mingled with the crowd and even did a K-9 unit demonstration, which excited young and old alike.
Families enjoying Muscatine’s first National Night Out. Photo by Margaret Hurlbert.
A chance for people to get to know the Muscatine Police Department better, Buss believed National Night Out gave local officers one more way to foster beneficial connections. “We see this as a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances,” shared Buss. “We aim to build lasting partnerships with members of our community in order to assist us in making Muscatine a safer and more caring place to live.”
Because of all the family-friendly events and the appeal of attractions like the splash pad, Buss also valued getting to connect with kids and give them a good first impression of Muscatine police officers: “There is nothing better in my profession than to have a lasting, positive interaction with a child that will stay with them for the rest of their life. We want kids to feel safe and comfortable approaching us under any circumstances,” Buss emphasized.
Though National Night Out stands out as a major way for the Muscatine Police Department to mix and mingle with community members, they make a point of getting out in the community all year long. This includes providing traffic assistance and security support and large events, visiting schools and helping with their events, and supporting kids during the holidays through the Shop with a Cop program.
