Tag Archives: National Night Out

August 2026 Outreach Report

Submitted by Michael Cote, Outreach Chair michaelcote@fpcivic.org

The North YMCA hosted a fantastic National Night Out on August 4, 2026! Several hundred people attended and many families received free backpacks and school supplies for kids going back to school. There were plenty of children’s games, free haircuts, free food (Steve Jennings grilled over 180 lbs of hotdogs!), music, door prizes, and appearances by Spiderman, Sheriff deputies, and CPD officers! The Forest Park community is very fortunate to have a caring and active partner like the North YMCA centered in the very heart of our neighborhood. The Forest Park Civic Association staffed a table at the event and we enjoyed friendly conversations with residents as well as law enforcement. Furthermore we established contacts with several organizations and members of local government including the Columbus City Council, SWACO, and CRIS, and we will be exploring further collaboration with them in the near future.

The New Americans Garden and Farm Stand hosted several well attended farm markets in July. Many residents from the Forest Park community had the chance to buy fresh cucumbers, green beans, and leafy greens like jamma-jamma and amaranth from local New American gardeners. The Farm Stand is managed by the Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio (BCCO) and will be open every Friday, 10 am – Noon, throughout the growing season. The Nutrition Workshop that the OSU Community Outreach Center of the James Comprehensive Cancer Hospital had scheduled for August 7 was postponed due to rain, but it is expected to be rescheduled soon. Pl;ease check our Facebook page for the new date. All are welcome to attend the workshop, and buy fresh produce from local gardeners. You are cordially invited to come and meet your neighbors and visit the local gardeners from the New Americans community as well as members of the BCCO staff. The Farm Stand is located in the heart of Forest Park at the intersection Karl Rd and Sandalwood Place in front of the North YMCA,1640 Sandalwood Pl.

Green Columbus is back with their annual free tree giveaway! Every spring Green Columbus plants 3,000+ trees at their nursery before giving them away as 4-6 foot trees in the fall to community residents to plant at home. Reserve your free tree now by signing up at greencbus.org/freetrees where you can select from different tree species as well as schedule where to pick up your free tree from among three different sites and dates this fall. You can be a nature-friendly resident in our community and help our Forest Park tree canopy grow by planting a free tree from Green Columbus!

The Northland Unity Festival will be returning to the North YMCA (1640 Sandalwood Pl) this year. The Unity Festival is Northland’s premier community event and will feature music, dance, food vendors, local crafts, and informational resources from local businesses and nonprofit organizations working in Northland. Come and enjoy Northland’s free festival of unity on September 19, 2026, 3-7 pm and celebrate being a part of a multicultural community that gives Northland its reputation as the international gateway to Columbus.

July 2026 Outreach Report

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Submitted by Michael Cote, Outreach Chair

The Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio (BCCO) will host a nutrition workshop during market day at the New Americans Garden and Farm Stand, July 17, 2026, 10am – Noon, Friday. The Farm Stand and New Americans Garden is located in the heart of Forest Park in front of the North YMCA at the corner of Karl Rd and Sandalwood Blvd (1640 Sandalwood Pl). The Nutrition Workshop will be presented by the OSU Center for Community Outreach at the James Comprehensive Cancer Center. All are welcome to attend the workshop to learn ways to reduce cancer risk through good nutrition while taking advantage of buying fresh produce from local gardeners from the BCCO and New Americans community. The Farm Stand will be open every Friday,10am – Noon, throughout the growing season.

Mark your calendars for the annual National Night Out (NNO), Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, 5-8 pm. As in previous years, the North YMCA is hosting the NNO for our community and is inviting everyone to come out to enjoy food, games, and camaraderie. This free community event is a unique, family-friendly opportunity to engage with police and community members who are serving to make our neighborhoods safe and friendly places to live. Free school supplies will be available to families that register at the North YMCA, 1640 Sandalwood Pl. NNO is hosted by thousands of communities in the U.S., Canada and on U.S. military bases making it one of the largest crime-prevention and community engagement initiatives in the country. It got its start in Pennsylvania in 1984 as an event designed to strengthen relationships between neighbors and local law enforcement and to foster safer, more connected communities.

The Northland Unity Festival this year will be held at the North YMCA (1640 Sandalwood Pl). Northland’s premier free community event will feature music, dance, food vendors, local crafts, and informational resources from local businesses and nonprofit organizations working in Northland. Come join Northland’s celebration of the Unity Festival on September 19, 2026, 3-7 pm and enjoy being a part of the many cultures that make Northland the international gateway to Columbus.

The Epworth United Methodist Church (UMC) has allowed the Forest Park Civic Association (FPCA) to use their building for monthly meetings for many years, and we wish to welcome their new Pastor, Norm Moxley to our community! In addition to serving at Epworth, Pastor Norm Moxley, will serve as Business Executive Manager at Maize Manor UMC. Pastor Moxley is energetic and plays for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. We look forward to meeting him.

National Night Out celebration at YMCA North

The Forest Park Civic Association and the North YMCA will host a free National Night Out celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 2, from 5 pm to 8 pm for everyone in Forest Park East and Forest Park West.

The event will include food, inflatables, an obstacle course, and more fun for residents and families. Local police officers will attend the event to meet residents.

The North YMCA is located at 1640 Sandalwood Pl. near the corner of Karl Rd. and Sandalwood Pl. in Forest Park East.

National Night Out is an annual event that enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. It provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

Everyone in Forest Park is encouraged to stop by the event and also to spend the evening outside on your street to gather with neighbors, meet new people, and build community. Many neighbors host a cookout or similar casual get-togethers.