By: Reagan Kuhn

Fort Collins, Colo.- From city planners to economists to Ancient Greek philosophers, the concept of how to achieve happiness in cities has always been a debate. Charles Montgomery, in his book Happy City, comes to the conclusion that it is human connection, above all else, that makes people happy in cities. 

So, using this as a reference, is Fort Collins a happy city?

Old Town Square in Fort Collins, CO. Photo by: Downtown Development Authority

Fort Collins has a number of spaces that allow for interaction and connection between residents, including Old Town Square, numerous parks, and a public recreation center, for which the city deliberately went above and beyond during construction to fit the needs of the community.

This is important because, according to this study, spaces like those mentioned above result in citizens having a greater sense of community and trust in relation to their city, which correlates with better mental health and lower stress levels – they literally make people happier.

Systems like public transportation, biking trails, and walking trails, for which Fort Collins is ranked 3^rd in the country, far above similarly-sized cities like Boulder and Colorado Springs, also have this effect. They increase connections between city residents, resulting in lower levels of depression, and can be used to combat urban isolation. I myself have experienced this benefit – even the struggles of university seem more bearable when I can bike to Old Town with some friends at the end of a long day.

Pitkin Bikeway in Fort Collins, CO. Photo by: City of Fort Collins

Connection is not the only way that community spaces and public transport in Fort Collins facilitate happiness, however. They also increase equity among citizens by providing equal access to jobs and events, even if individuals do not own private vehicles, lessening urban isolation and combating poverty and unemployment. Not only that, but these systems also often have a positive impact on the environment. 

While Fort Collins is far from perfect, I believe that its facilitation of community connection, equity, and environmental benefits as a result of implementing community spaces and public transportation systems show that it is on its way to becoming a happy ci