Under the direction of the Albert Lea Police Department and a few members of one neighborhood, about 30 people came together Tuesday night to take part in a block party tied in with the National Night Out program.

The block party was one of more than a thousand in Minnesota to take place on the traditional first Tuesday in August. It was on Court Lane and included people in the region between Lakeview Boulevard and Vine Avenue.

“We had a good mix of people,” said Albert Lea police officer Darin Palmer, who is over District 2 Subdistrict 3 in Albert Lea. “I think it was a good idea.”

During the gathering, neighbors came out to talk and discuss issues of concern for the neighborhood, eat food, and meet officers, their councilman, Larry Baker, and Mayor Randy Erdman.

“I think it went well,” Palmer said.

This was the 25th year for National Night Out, a program designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support and participation for local anti-crime programs; and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.

It went hand-in-hand with the police department’s community policing initiatives.

Palmer said hopefully in the future these block parties are something that will develop across the city to help prevent crime.

Block parties are held frequently in the summer anyway, but this block party had a little bit of a different focus in mind: To prevent crime.

Lenore Fries, one of the neighborhood members who helped organize the event, said it was a great opportunity to meet with neighbors and discuss quality of life issues at the same time.

“I think it’s good to know that there’s ways to connect, to get things done,” Fries said of community policing.

Palmer said though it may take a few block parties to get more people to come out, the more things people in the community do together, the more they’ll draw closer together.

“I’d encourage anyone to get involved in block parties and community policing,” Fries said. “It’s fun and it’s worthwhile. It’s making a difference.”

She said for her neighborhood the largest quality of life concern is motorcycle noise.