Beebe Memorial Park was packed with local children and their families Tuesday night to celebrate National Night Out with law enforcement.

The nationwide event is a chance for public servants to get to know the people they serve and vice versa — a block party of citywide proportion. Tuesday night’s gathering in Washington definitely had a block party feel to it, according to many who were present.

“It was a different feel this year,” said Kimberly Grimes, Washington Police Department’s Outreach Coordinator and National Night Out’s coordinator. “It was really good because National Night Out is about diversity of ethnic groups and it was really nice to see that last night.”

This was the second year Grimes organized Washington’s National Night Out and she sees the payoff — though she credits its success to both the business and law enforcement communities’ overwhelming support.

“You had a lot of good people in the community coming together to show how much we support the program,” said Capt. Russell Davenport, head of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit. “Last year was probably the first year that it was really starting to become known … It’s a good event — every county is starting to have them so we’re going to try to participate as much as we can.”

It was also an opportunity to offer a meal (provided by the Washington Housing Authority) and some much needed accessories for the coming school year. In addition to raffled items like clothing from downtown’s New York Style and four tickets to the upcoming Downtown Motown show on the Washington waterfront, Washington police gave away gift bags filled with school supplies.

“I wanted for us to do something really meaningful,” Grimes said. “Something that would help parents too.”

“I think the kids had a great time and the parents had a great time,” said WPD Chief Stacy Drakeford. “I was hoping that all the community work we’ve been doing over the past 18 months would pay off and last (Tuesday) night was the culmination of that. Next year, I want it to be even bigger.”

It’s a sentiment that Grimes and Davenport share.

For Grimes, events like National Night Out allow her to create positive change in the community and bring disparate people together.

“I love Washington … I love living here,” she said. “And we’re heading for some changes — good changes.”