Residents across the city gathered at more than 35 parties Tuesday to celebrate National Night Out. The event is designed to increase awareness for crime prevention in community neighborhoods.

Greg Swan organized his first National Night Out party at Hickory Park for residents in downtown Chaska. He was pleased with the turnout.

“It’s been great,” said Swan.

Kids created sidewalk chalk art and played on the playground equipment while the adults chatted nearby. The group even convinced McGruff the Crime Dog to take a turn on the see-saw during his visit.

Over at Chaska Place Apartments, some residents dined on hot dogs and cotton candy while others took advantage of games of ladder ball and water balloon tossing as well as face painting.

At Riverview Terrace, the grill was going, turning out hot dogs and hamburgers by the dozens. Children took turns on the swings, abandoning them only to rush to the ice cream truck as it rolled past the park.

“It’s a really nice night,” said Julie Janke, National Night Out coordinator for the Chaska Police Department.