Hundreds of parents, grandparents, kids and teenagers enjoyed the activities at the first annual Salisbury Township Community Day held July 16 at the Salisbury Township Middle School campus. The gathering is the successor to the National Night Out gatherings held in previous years hosted by the Salisbury Township Police Department.

This year’s activities were organized by Salisbury Recreation Director Genny Balle, director of the township’s summer playground program held in the township’s three parks and the recreation advisory committee. She was assisted by about a dozen playground program summer employees and the Salisbury Township police department.

Both township fire companies had equipment on display and games inside and outside supplemented the hot dog and soda available to visitors. Inflatables were popular and DJs kept the grounds supplied with music. Township police officers and playground program employees took turns in the dunk tank as youngsters tried to send them into the tub of cold water.

Bingo inside provided tickets as prizes that could be used to enter the basket raffle.

Township bakers brought their homemade specialties for sampling, and visitors got to vote for the best selections. Baking friends Olivia Segata, a Western Salisbury Elementary School student and Jess McElroy won for the second year running, having garnered first baking prize at last year’s National Night Out gathering.

Baille pronounced the evening a success and she is already looking forward to next year.