The Las Cruces Police Department’s Community Outreach Team, in partnership with Raising Cane’s, will hold a Lunchbox Lemonade event on Thursday, August 7, 2025. The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Unidad Park Splash Pad, located at 1501 E. Hadley Ave.
According to organizers, the Lunchbox Lemonade series aims to bring together Las Cruces residents of all ages for lunch with the Community Outreach Team at local splash pads. The gatherings offer an opportunity for participants to speak with team members about police matters and public safety concerns while children play in the splash pad.
“The Lunchbox Lemonade series encourages Las Cruces residents of all ages to have lunch with the Community Outreach Team at an area splash pad. Participants can visit with team members, discuss police matters and share their concerns about public safety while their kids cool off in the splash pad.”
The department has announced that this will not be the final event of its kind this year; another Lunchbox Lemonade gathering is planned for August 21 at Plaza De Las Cruces.
Participants are asked to bring their own sack lunches. The police department will provide free popsicles and Raising Cane’s will offer free lemonade for those attending.
This community outreach initiative is part of broader efforts by city departments to engage residents and address local needs. For example, Las Cruces Utilities is developing a plan regarding future natural gas use as most homes and businesses in the city currently rely on it for heating and cooking.
Other ongoing city activities include master planning efforts for Young Park and revitalization studies focused on neighborhoods around El Paseo and S Solano corridors between Lohman and University Avenues. The City also continues programs such as water conservation education through Lush and Lean, staff training closures like that of the Cashiering Program on June 26, new tax location codes effective July 1 from the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department (https://www.tax.newmexico.gov/), annual Safe Digging Month reminders encouraging calls to 811 before excavation work (https://call811.com/), educational field trips for students about water importance at Young Park, as well as hosting family-friendly events like outdoor movie screenings downtown (https://www.lascruces.gov/).
The next major citywide event following Lunchbox Lemonade will be National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 from 5–9 p.m., taking place on Main Street Downtown.
