In a city known for its diverse population and unmatched culture, many would expect a wide range of activities for all ages. But this is the not case, as teens are often left saying, “There’s nothing to do here” or find themselves driving an hour to Albuquerque just to find a source of entertainment.

This lack of entertainment for teens — and lack of night life for adults — has influenced many to take action, including Mayor Javier Gonzales. As a strong supporter of education and Santa Fe’s youth, Gonzales sees significant importance in supporting the next generation of Santa Fe.

The goal of making Santa Fe “young” is a challenge, but is much needed as the appeal of Santa Fe is slowly declining for those not interested in the variety of historic landmarks and art galleries that Santa Fe has to offer.

Santa Fe has been experiencing slowing population growth over the past decade. The U.S. Census Bureau shows that Santa Fe’s population rose by close to 15,000 from 2000 to 2010 while from 2010 to 2016 there was an increase of less than 6,000, putting the city on track for a minor population increase of about 9,000 by 2020. This number is concerning as it shows a decrease in growth by about 40 percent over the two decades.

Santa Fe is certainly not a young city, with an average age of 45, compared to the national average age of 37. Some blame the cost of living for the “graying” of Santa Fe.

While the actual cost of living in Santa Fe is around the national average, the cost of housing is close to 18 percent higher. This makes it tough for people who might like to live here but do not have much money to start out with, such as college graduates. This increases the tendency for Santa Fe to be “old.”

One addition to the city that has increased entertainment possibilities not only for teens but for locals and tourists of all ages is Meow Wolf. This “art exhibit” has risen to the top of things to do in Santa Fe since its opening in March 2016. In the past year, Meow Wolf has been visited by nearly 400,000 people and has expanded its exhibit to up and coming musicians, allowing concerts to be played there nearly every weekend.

This has been critical in the quest to make Santa Fe more appealing to youth as it has brought young artists from all around, in addition to becoming a regular destination for teens. The success that Meow Wolf has seen has resulted in possible expansion to other parts of New Mexico as well as much larger cities such as Austin and Denver.

Another significant addition to Santa Fe over the past decade has been the Railyard, which has brought a new source of entertainment by way of free music events, several restaurants, and the Violet Crown movie theater. Unlike Regal Cinemas, a chain theater on the opposite side of town, Violet Crown comes with a restaurant and different types of seating.

While these success are significant, they are very small steps to making Santa Fe appealing to more than artists and retirees, and especially to younger people. With a mayor who supports the future of this city, the possibilities have certainly expanded, but only time will tell if Santa Fe’s youth stick around.