New Yorks High Line elevated park

Posted:20 November 2009

Whilst in New York last week I took the opportunity to walk along the length of Manhattan’s latest public space, the High Line. This very unexpected and totally unique public park was created along an abandoned and unused section of elevated freight track.

It is totally inspiring – not only in its unexpected beauty and dramatic views over the Chelsea meat-packing district to one side and the Hudson River to the other, but for its imaginative reuse of a space destined for demolition. Its raw sculpted concrete walkways laid between sections of rusted iron superstructure are lined with meadow grasses, perennial planting, shrubs and trees.

The planting was designed in consultation with planting designer Piet Oudolf, and inspired by the self-seeded landscape that grew on the out-of-use elevated rail tracks during the 25 years after the trains stopped running.

All were chosen for their hardiness, sustainability, and textural and color variation, with a focus on native species. The landscape design also focussed on extending the bloom time, with plants flowering from late January to mid-November. www.thehighline.org