By: Max Wick

Fort Collins, Colo.- What do you think makes people so attached to Fort Collins? Is it Oldtown? Horsetooth? The people? As simple as it sounds, one of the most influential factors on people’s love for Fort Collins is the city layout. It is highly dependent on the person’s age as to what part of the cityscape is important to them. I found that younger generations are more influenced by a sense of place and older generations had a higher affinity for the level of performance of a town, both of which Fort Collins does very well.

Younger generations thrive with the presence of open green spaces and amenities. The key is that these have to be easily available to them, whether this be big sidewalks, few cars, or safer bike lanes. This also tends to appeal to the slightly older generations as their parents know that they are safe. Fort Collins supplies many shops and stores as well as parks that appeal to kids. The key is that these are sprinkled throughout town and easy to get to. Fort Collins is known for its long and wide sidewalks, as well as its bike lanes that are separated from the road. This accessible layout increases the younger generations’ place attachment exponentially.

Older generations tend to value the performance of a town over all else. These generations looked for the presence of good schools, quality government, and affordable healthcare in a place to live. Fort Collins has proof of a great business and performance scene, as it was awarded the Malcolm Baldrige award by the US Secretary of Commerce, which recognizes this high-quality scene. This greatly increases people’s respect and affinity for Fort Collins.

A few other slightly smaller factors are that of the presence of various outdoor activities, which Fort Collins has an abundance of. The ease of access to all amenities, green spaces, and outdoor activities makes the opportunity for place attachment easy. People’s love of Fort Collins heavily relies on its urban layout.