2,000 middle-school-age audience members and at various other conferences and events.

The Risk Takers Prevention Theatre Troupe gained national recognition at the 1997 National Recreation and Park Association Annual Congress. The Dorothy Mullen National Arts and Humanities Award (for communities with populations of 25,001 to 74,999) was presented to the park district for its innovation and excellence in the arts and humanities. The Risk Takers Prevention Theatre Troupe was also recently selected to be listed as a model arts program in Building America's Communities II: A Compendium of Arts and Community Development Programs, a publication of Americans for the Arts and the Institute for Community Development and the Arts.

Originally conceived as a middle school program, some participants desired to remain in the group after graduating into high school. Given the goals of the program, this seemed wise and they were allowed to stay. Beginning in the fall of 1998, the program will assume a high school component.

Teen Advisory Committee
The Teen Advisory Committee evolved from a pilot project funded in 1996 by the National Recreation Foundation. The committee consists of 15 middle and high school youth representatives who meet regularly to plan recreational, social and community related activities and facilitate numerous activities such as dances, activity nights, college