Survey claims Chicopee is ‘boring’

Date: 8/8/2014

CHICOPEE – Is Chicopee – the second largest city in western Massachusetts on of the most communities in the Bay State?
   
According to a survey conducted by Movoto.com, an online real estate broker, Chicopee made the list of the ten “most boring places in Massachusetts.”
   
The only other western Massachusetts town to make the list was Agawam. The most boring community in the state is Leominster, followed by Attleboro, Brockton, Braintree, Franklin, Methuen, Chicopee, Agawam, Taunton and Lawrence.
   
The most exciting isn’t Boston, by the way, but Somerville. 
   
According to the author of the online story, Natalie Grigson, the results are from an analysis of census information. “We started by going to the U.S. Census (2010) and listing the 50 most populous places in the state. Then, we used the Census and business listings to find information about each place in the following categories: nightlife per capita (bars, clubs, comedy, etc.); live music venues per capita; active life options per capita (parks, outdoor activities, etc.); arts and entertainment per capita (movie theaters, festivals, galleries, theaters, etc.); fast food restaurants per capita (the more the more boring); percentage of restaurants that are not fast food (the lower the more boring); percentage of young residents ages 18 to 34 (the lower the more boring); and population density (the lower the better).”
   
Grigson wrote of Chicopee, “Don’t let Chicopee’s comparatively high number of nightlife options per capita fool you, it’s still wicked boring here. Sure, there’s Say When Cafe, Atlas Pub, and Doc’s Place (which is awesome), but when the beer wears off and the hangover is done, what is there to do? You can’t really go out to eat – Chicopee’s 48th place ranking in the non-fast food category saw to this. You don’t have too many options for being active (it ranked 47th here) and if you feel like strolling a museum, well, you might want to head to Springfield.”
   
Joel McAuliffe, Communications and Special Projects manager for Mayor Richard Kos responded, “Considering they list Chicopee as a town I’m not inclined to take them seriously, but for fun:

• Lack of restaurants: The Munich Haus is one of the premiere German restaurants in the area, Collegian Court, the slew of chain restaurants on Memorial Drive;

• Active life options: Chicopee State Park, Chicopee Bike Train, multiple gyms, and parks (Szot Park is well known across the state as a ‘crown jewel park’);

• Art: Chicopee public library regularly has art exhibits.
   
So, really Chicopee is not boring, nor a town. It’s a city and a great one at that!”