Healthy aging in the heart of downtown
By Arcenio J. Trujillo
September 2, 2026
MainStreet Beat - Taos News
When it comes to inviting everyone back to Taos County Plaza, three very distinct communities come to mind as priorities for a return.
If families with small children, teens and young adults, and our aging-in-place elders feel welcome and “at home” in our historic neighborhoods, a vibrant downtown that consistently feels full will ensue. This is the movement, and efforts to promote ease for these local groups need to remain at the forefront as governments, civic-minded organizations, area planners, downtown merchants and advocates consider next-step ideas for this space.
Downtown Taos has changed greatly in many ways over the past several decades. It has changed physically, from dirt roads to graded, packed-earth surfaces to brick pavers and eventually modern paving materials. Accessibility has also progressed and improved drastically alongside technological and structural changes.
Imagine the dreadful mud encumbrances during the spring thaw and monsoons in the old days in and around Taos County Plaza. Throw in some deep ruts and heaps of horse manure, and at times, visits downtown must have been a high-pressure adventure for people of any age.
According to historical marker information, Taos County Plaza was engineered and paved sometime after 1950. This undoubtedly opened the square to regular vehicle, horse and foot traffic, making it the ultimate community center and marketplace. While I found no data regarding the introduction of sidewalks around the inner courtyard and along roadways, hanging out or cruising was inevitably easier and, sweetly, more worthwhile after this modern upgrade.
Since the mid-1900s, our plaza has undergone other transformations, too, including cultural, economic and functional changes that have engendered diverse crowds and trends. Our elderly family members, friends and neighbors were, in many ways, the first generation to experience this change in real time. The stories they have about their beloved plaza can be transformational in their own special way and should be gathered and noted by younger Taoseños.
For many Northern New Mexico families, downtown was a special place to visit. Unfortunately, there have been stretches when this wasn’t always the case. For a plethora of reasons, an exodus of sorts has taken place, with locals avoiding our town’s heart, making those stories much more important and necessary. Additionally, getting our elders back to the plaza and downtown is important and necessary.
Fortunately, there is an ongoing push to get our local seniors to reclaim their special geographic place. As mentioned, the recent improvements to the courtyard, sidewalks and quays emphasize accessibility, including Americans with Disabilities Act rules and requirements for user-friendliness. Additionally, new high-quality benches encourage people to sit and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the plaza or visit with a friend.
Another boost zeroing in on our elder population is a campaign known as Healthy Aging Month, which occurs every September. This annual observance is dedicated to inspiring adults to improve their physical, mental, social and financial well-being as they grow older.
September was strategically chosen for this campaign because of its unique psychological association with a “back-to-school” mindset. Most school-age kids return to more structured daily routines, making it the perfect calendar milestone for adults to pay attention to their own personal health goals. Plus, as the summer heat begins to dissipate and temperatures come down a bit, daytime walks and other outdoor activities are more tenable.
Anecdotally, downtown merchants see an uptick of older tourists and out-of-town shoppers during September and flippantly view the surge as a “liberation of sorts” from grandma and grandpa duties now that their little ones are back in the classroom. In any case, they are choosing to come to Taos and rightfully enjoying the attributes and peace our downtown has to offer.
So, if you’re looking for a way to celebrate Healthy Aging Month or seeking to rekindle “back-in-the-day” memories, consider revisiting your “old stomping grounds” this September and check out the new amenities with a quiet stroll downtown.
Better yet, bring your small grandkids or teens with you outside of school hours. Come and enjoy an ice cream cone on one of those newly installed benches under those tranquil Taos County Plaza skies and have a nice visit.
Arcenio J. Trujillo is community engagement coordinator of Taos MainStreet, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the economic vitality and historic preservation of downtown Taos. Contact Trujillo at community@taosmainstreet.org. Learn more at taosmainstreet.org.