Cloudy skies and the first signs of rain in the last month didn’t deter hundreds of Mill Creek area residents from taking part in the first National Night Out event to be staged at McCollum Park.
The park was a busy place on Tuesday, Aug. 5, with families watching demonstrations of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, shooting free throws, measuring their fastball at the speed pitch machine, and getting information on a variety of public safety topics and other information.
“Look at all these kids,” said State Rep. John Lovick (D-Mill Creek), who was dressed in his Washington State Patrol officer’s uniform representing the agency. “It’s just like a carnival for these kids.”
By 6 p.m., McCollum Park was packed with families, with the lines for free hot dogs and corn on the cob being especially long. Later, longtime children’s favorite J.P. Patches signed autographs, and the line to meet him ran at least two dozen deep. The park’s BMX track was continually busy with a variety of children and adults taking part in a night of free racing.
The event’s attendance, which lessened after 7:30 p.m., surprised law enforcement agency representatives.
“I am surprised a bit (by the turnout) because it’s a weeknight,” said Mill Creek Police Officer Chris White. “It’s awesome that everyone could come out.”
Vendors also found the event productive.
“Yeah, we got quite a flow,” said Ron Toppi, president of Shared Wheels, an 11-month-old Everett-based organization that provides donated bicycles to adults and children needing transportation. “I didn’t expect this much turnout. I didn’t quite know what to expect.”
The organization, which had maps of county trails and other bicycling related pamphlets available, said they had given out close to half the brochures they brought with them within the first 90 minutes of the three-hour event.
The event was a partnership between the sheriff’s office, Mill Creek Police, Community Transit, Snohomish County Parks and Recreation, Fire District 1 and the county health district.
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