Pleasant Hills National Night Out a bit different this year – but still a success

Pleasant Hills held its 26th annual National Night Out on July 28 – and the parade was a welcome event to those in the borough.

The procession, featuring about 120 vehicles of first responders including police and fire trucks, as well as a large number of motorcycles, traveled through Pleasant Hills’ streets.

This year, the typical big block parties didn’t occur. Instead, families and residents remained in their own yards and driveways, following guidance that was issued by the borough due to the coronavirus pandemic. Pleasant Hills Deputy Chief Sean Greene said that the reception that would typically take place after the parade was also canceled this year.

“We thought it was relatively safe to just do a parade,” he said. “Most people were in small groups.”

Families gathered together in their driveways to wave American flags and cheer on the first responders. Greene said that National Night Out is not only an evening for the community to support first responders, but an evening for police to salute the residents of Pleasant Hills as well.

“It was a positive experience and a great opportunity for families to be outside of their home in a safe way – they didn’t have to worry about masks and social distancing and they could just feel normal,” said Rachel Adams, who lives on Toura Drive near the end of the parade route. “It was very patriotic – lots of red, white and blue.”

Greene is looking forward to a return to normalcy next year. “We hope to get back to the way that it always has been,” he said.

As for this year, he said, “We had a great time, it was great to see the community out there, it was a beautiful night.”