![Virginia Beach Communities ‘Reset’ through Parks After Dark Program Following Recent Violence Virginia Beach Communities ‘Reset’ through Parks After Dark Program Following Recent Violence](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dd629dd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1008+0+36/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F37%2Fb8%2F3295519b40c4847a6640ac9d88de%2Fvlcsnap-2024-06-06-23h14m30s463.png)
Virginia BEACH, Va. — A warm, breezy afternoon at Williams Farm Park in Virginia Beach provided the setting for the city’s first Parks After Dark event of the year.
In its second year, Parks After Dark offers a safe space for families to relax, meet other community members and connect with authorities. The initiative was born from the Mayor’s Youth Violence Prevention Task Force.
Bobbi Dingle brought her family to Thursday’s event. Last year they came several times. His young children enjoyed food, games and the outdoors.
Maxwell Barrett/WTKR News 3
Bobbi Dingle
Dingle told News 3’s Jay Greene that he appreciates the opportunity to meet members of the Virginia Beach Police Department.
“They can get to know the community and the community can get to know them,” Dingle said.
Maxwell Barrett/WTKR News 3
Virginia Beach City Councilwoman Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond represents the neighborhoods around Newtown Elementary School and Williams Farm Park.
He said this creates a sense of positivity for children and their parents, and that there is no place for violence.
Maxwell Barrett/WTKR News 3
Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond, Virginia Beach City Council District 4
“Everyone plays and there is no room for fighting because we all work together,” he said. “We can have all the diversity and inclusion without the constant bickering and fighting. There are parents and people from all walks of life, all ethnicities, and everyone is here just to enjoy the weather, see their kids have fun and maybe make one or two friends.”
Thursday night’s festivities come just weeks after a 15-year-old boy was killed in a shooting at the Mt. Trashmore Carnival in Virginia Beach. It is one of five homicides in the city involving a person under 18 this year.
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Dr. Ross-Hammond said she is trying to work with the city council and school board so they can “reason together.”
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“If we continue to have these guns in the wrong hands, ‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t help,” he said. “We as adults need to reason with parents, help them… put those (guns) away, be responsible because that can make a difference… you’ll see your child grow up and become something great.”
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She believes Parks After Dark is a first step and cited a decrease in violence since the first series last year.
Virginia Beach Police Department Lt. Kevin Lokey of the Youth Services Unit called Parks After Dark this a “reset” for the community.
Maxwell Barrett/WTKR News 3
Virginia Beach Police Department Lieutenant Kevin Lokey, Youth Services Unit
“We need to have the trust of the public and the teenagers. That’s how we solve crimes,” he said. “Teenagers need to be able to see officers as human beings…they need to be able to trust them.”
Councilwoman Dr. Ross-Hammond said she hopes this will serve as a pilot program for other districts in the city.
Parks After Dark will take place from June 6 to August 24 most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 6 to 11 pm at Williams Farm Park.
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