According to the last update in 2018, Decatur’s population exceeded 6,989 residents.The fast food possibilities seem endless within the city limits, but from a teenager’s standpoint, the entertainment and hang spots are quite limited. They entertain themselves by traveling to neighboring cities like Denton looking for better food and entertainment choices than what they find closer to home. 

With Decatur’s limited gathering spots, teenagers living here need more places to hang out to socialize, so they remain in close proximity to safer, more familiar surroundings. 

Unlike Decatur, Denton provides teens with better food options that stretch from a variety of the usual fast food joints to nicer family dinner restaurants. If Decatur added a few more upscale or a variety of restaurants, residents in return save on the gas it takes to travel to other towns and create more hometown memories, ultimately putting money back into our own town.

If more hang out spots opened in town, teenagers would no longer need to worry about traveling on arguably dangerous highways risking their safety to go to another city for entertainment, and therefore driving longer distances would no longer be an issue. If more hangout spots were available to teenagers, their social life becomes more accessible and entertaining with various entertainment spots.

All in all, Decatur needs to grow for that to happen. Though the town experiences a tight knit culture, if it expanded, teens have the opportunity to explore and entertain themselves. Decatur teens deserve more opportunities to go out with friends around their own town.