What’s in downtown New York and high in the air? It’s the High Line, a fascinating urban park constructed from abandoned elevated freight train tracks. More than five million New Yorkers and visitors have run, walked, sat and sunned themselves on this unique aerie, which celebrated its 12th birthday last month.
The High Line was inspired by a Parisian reclamation of infrastructure, the Promenade Plantée, a public garden/walking path that follows an old train line. In turn, the High Line has motivated urban planners across the planet to take old infrastructure and turn it into something usable and lovely.
An early morning walk on a recent sunny spring day revealed the visual byplay between the plants, grasses and trees of the High Line and the surrounding architecture of the Meatpacking District and Chelsea. On your next trip to New York, a stroll or a run on the High Line ought to be on your itinerary.
