What Makes a City ‘Alive’ or ‘Dead’?

A city is like a big, busy playground. If people come in and play, building new houses, eating at fun restaurants, or walking through colorful streets, the city feels alive. But if no one comes for years and everything becomes quiet and run-down, the city starts to feel dead.

When lots of people live in a city, and they go to work, have fun, and make new things happen, like opening up shops or creating art, it makes the city feel full of life.

If fewer people stay in a city over time, and businesses close down, buildings fall apart, and streets become quiet, that city may start to feel like it’s sleeping, or even dying.