Arlington neighborhoods are getting ready for National Night Out 2016. National Night Out is set for tonight. This nationwide celebration of police and community partnerships has been going on in Arlington for more than 20 years. Starting at around 5 p.m., neighbors will turn on their porch lights and gather outdoors to interact, get to know one another, and greet public safety officials who attend the various gatherings around the city.

In many neighborhoods, grills will be fired up. Others will have food trucks, music, dancing and games for children. Police officers across the city will join neighbors to increase awareness of APD crime prevention initiatives such as Citizens on Patrol, Community Watch and Citizens Police Academy programs. The night also involves city leaders and representatives from other city departments, including the Arlington Fire Department and Code Compliance. To date, close to 196 neighborhood groups have registered their participation in National Night Out.

National Night Out is big in Arlington. In a national comparison of large cities in the U.S. with populations greater than 300,000, Arlington ranks third in National Night Out participation, according to National Association of Town Watch, the lead organizer of this program. The ranking is based on a number of factors, including the overall quality of the National Night Out campaign, neighborhood participation and law enforcement involvement.

"To all of the Arlington neighborhoods who will be participating in National Night Out, thank you for partnering with us in making our city great," said Police Chief Will Johnson. "National Night Out allows us to celebrate great community investments and send a message to those who would do harm to us that our neighborhoods are organized and working together to deter crime."

Arlington neighborhoods are reminded to stay social on the big night. Share your National Night Out photos on the APD Facebook page and Twitter using the #APDNNO.