The Parks, Recreation and Public Lands department's mission is to provide accessible, safe and quality parks, facilities, open spaces and recreational opportunities for all, and to be Montana's leader in connecting people, nature and healthy lifestyles. Public safety has been a significant topic of discussion for residents of Billings and City officials, more specifically preventing youth from getting involved in criminal activities. Recently, experts and community stakeholders were invited to a public meeting to address recent violent crimes, including the involvement of youth. It was agreed that youth are getting involved in risky and criminal activities at a young age. After a failed bond measure to add capacity for youth programming in Parks & Recreation and a failed safety levy for Billings Public Schools, the City is looking for budget-conscious means for youth programming and crime prevention. The benefits of teen volunteerism are vast. Youth who volunteer experience...