The National Association of Town Watch announced this week that Arlington received first place in its 2023 National Night Out Awards program, which recognizes communities for outstanding participation and engagement during the annual event.

This marks the third time in four years (2020, 2021, 2023) that Arlington has taken top honors for cities with a population of 300,000+. Arlington has placed in the Top 3 nationally every year since 2015.

More than 150 Arlington neighborhoods, organizations, and businesses hosted National Night Out parties this year. The goal of NNO is to bring together neighbors, community leaders, police, firefighters, and other city employees in a fun, relaxed environment so they can forge lasting relationships that will help strengthen the community.

“We’re incredibly honored to receive this recognition and I hope our entire community takes pride in it because it truly is a reflection on them,” said Chief of Police Al Jones. “The Arlington Police Department is an agency that wants to engage with its community and Arlington is a community that wants to engage with its police department. This just further proves that. I’d like to express my deep appreciation to all of the APD employees who participated and to all of the community members who hosted and attended NNO parties.”

The awards are based on a variety of factors including overall quality of the event, community engagement, and law enforcement involvement. Here is a complete list of the 2023 award winners for cities with a population of 300,000+. 

1. Arlington, TX
2. Orlando, FL
3. Columbus, OH
4. Chesterfield County, VA
5. Minneapolis, MN
6. Buffalo, NY
7. Dallas, TX
8. St. Paul, MN
9. Louisville-Jefferson County Metro, KY
10. Collin County, TX

Learn more about the NNO awards by visiting the National Association of Town Watch website.