MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Registration Deadline Nears for Coon Rapids' Annual Night to Unite

COON RAPIDS, MN (July 8, 2026) The Coon Rapids Police Department is reminding residents that time is running out to register neighborhood gatherings for this year's Night to Unite, with registration closing Friday, July 10, ahead of the city's annual community-building event on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Held from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Night to Unite brings together neighborhoods across Coon Rapids for block parties, cookouts, and other community gatherings designed to strengthen relationships among neighbors while fostering positive connections with police officers, firefighters, and other public safety personnel. More than 100 neighborhood parties typically participate in the annual event, making it one of the city's largest community engagement initiatives each summer.

Residents who register their neighborhood parties by Friday will be included on the evening's public safety visitation schedule, giving participants an opportunity to meet with members of the Coon Rapids Police Department and Coon Rapids Fire Department, as staffing and scheduling permit. Registered neighborhoods will also receive a swag bag containing promotional items, community resources, and crime prevention information to support their events. Swag bags will be available for pickup at the Coon Rapids Police Department, located at 11155 Robinson Drive NW, beginning Monday, July 27.

To help organizers prepare, the City of Coon Rapids provides a variety of online planning resources, including printable "Save the Date" cards, invitation flyers, and a planning checklist designed to simplify neighborhood event coordination.

Night to Unite is Minnesota's statewide observance of the national National Night Out program, an annual crime prevention initiative that encourages neighbors to get to know one another, build stronger community relationships, and develop partnerships with local law enforcement and first responders. The program has become a longstanding tradition throughout Minnesota, where hundreds of communities host neighborhood gatherings on the first Tuesday in August.

In Coon Rapids, the annual event is supported through a partnership involving the Coon Rapids Police Department, the Coon Rapids Fire Department, the Coon Rapids Crime Prevention Association, the Coon Rapids Fire Department Community Fund, local businesses, and other community organizations. Their support helps provide educational materials, promotional items, and neighborhood resources while reinforcing the city's ongoing commitment to crime prevention and community engagement.

City officials encourage neighborhood organizers to complete their registration before Friday's deadline to ensure their events can be included in planning for police and fire department visits. Registration information, event planning materials, and additional details are available through the City of Coon Rapids' Night to Unite webpage.

MinneapoliMedia | Community. Culture. Civic Life.