By: Julianna Lopez

Fort Collins, Colo.- I walk down those old brick roads underneath those fairy lights as a local band plays on the stage in the main plaza. Watching children run around with parents watching nearby as you enjoy your ice cream from Walrus, the local ice cream shop up the road. These town centers are what makes cities happy as they create a strong sense of community. With the rise of technology and urban sprawl, healthy relations within a community have become strained, leading to less happiness among urban centers. Yet, Fort Collins has done an amazing job with maintaining town centers as even with the constant development, the ‘Old Town’ still stands by the river Cache La Poudre, where Fort Collins began as Camp Collins, originally a small military outpost. Maintaining this historic area allows strong place attachment and a place for local businesses to thrive as large chains are kept from these community-building places.

Old Town is a district to be celebrated as it creates an economic hub that fuels social connections while still benefiting the overall city production. When it comes to happiness within the city, people need to be able to trust one another and feel safe within their streets. Fort Collins ‘Old Town’ has even inspired the likes of Walt Disney as a demonstration of what a town center and community should be. Humans need social connection and proximity to feel fulfilled in life, and relationships are known to have large impacts on happiness overall. This is exactly why these town centers are so essential to making urban areas happy again. Old Town is a wonderful town center that I recommend you visit when you get a chance, as it’s hard not to smile under those fairy lights.