Despite certain politicians not showing up and a bit of a dent in turnout, the annual Roslindale Unity Day / National Night Out (NNO) went off without a hitch on Monday to the delight of more than 400 residents.

Residents packed into the Beechland Park for music, dancing, community and connection. The celebration, at least for Unity Day, goes back decades, since before the completion of the Beech Street Apartment complex’s 2011 renovation, and was a way for residents of the Boston Housing Authority apartments to get out, meet each other, and grow together.

Now, the event saw people from many walks of life coming together for sno cones, hot dogs and inflatable water slides.

“I didn’t move here until about 20 years ago, and I know it started well before that,” said Resident Board member Lerona Diggs. “They do it every year, and back then it was just a community thing where folks would bring out their food and fun, and I think that’s just how it started.”

Diggs said she first got involved when she moved into the building.

“I was going through my own stuff at the time, but the people here talked to me and they were very kind,” she said. “And I went in only as an alternate board member, but it worked and I’m still here!”

Diggs said while the turnout was a little muted, it was still a great time.

“Most of them here are kids, and that’s good, because that’s what this is all about,” she said. “We got to make sure they’re all having a good time, and maybe they’re getting a little education too.”

NNO organizer Dennis Kirkpatrick said they’ve been combining with the Unity Day Celebrations since around 2021.

“Before that, before COVID-19, we were at Adams Park, but an opportunity came up with the BHA management company here, Trinity Management, and they’re splitting the cost of the entertainment,” he said. “We’ve got a slide, a bouncy house, we got a DJ and of course, the Police put on a cookout. It’s a great public / private partnership, and my little part is to just get all the info tables together and keep everybody happy.”

NNO started as Take Back the Night back in the 1980s, when crime was spiking in the United States far above what it is now, and residents wanted to feel safe in their own neighborhoods. It evolved into a partnership with the police and is celebrated across the country every year.

Kirkpatrick said the lack of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu may have hurt attendance, as potentially meeting the mayor is a big draw.

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“So there will be people coming in just for that purpose,” he said. “But NNO – and I’m going to get in a bit of trouble for this – doesn’t necessarily need elected officials. It’s about the communities coming together with the police department and to get to know them. Sometimes there is a familiarity that breaks the wall between the public and the police. That’s what’s going on here, to break that wall so that residents aren’t unwilling to call when there’s a need.”

And the police get to learn something about their neighbors too, as well as maybe something they weren’t expecting.

“All the police officers are walking around – last year we had a lot of them dancing sambas, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that later tonight,” he said.

Resident Ricardo Mead said his mother first moved here a few years ago, and he’s been coming to the Unity Day / NNO celebration ever since.

“My mother’s been here since 2013, and since I came to this state, I’ve always been coming out for Roslindale because she’s been here for years,” he said. “And this is just a great time, everybody’s united, you’ve got all the kids running around, it’s really fun and to me, it brings a wonderful and positive energy. It’s really beneficial, and just really good.”

Parkway Y Counselor and Roslindale native (now moved to West Roxbury) Armani Lugo said this was his first time at the Beech Street Apartments celebration and he was loving it. He said his supervisor at the Y recommended it to him.

“She just told me it was a really great place to socialize with the community and build my community of friends,” he said. “Of course, I’m having fun. I love the people, I love the energy and I love the music. It’s just great.”

Beech Board member Iris Centeno said she became a board member two years ago, and that it’s been a great experience.

“It’s just great to see everyone in the neighborhood,” she said.