High
November 29, 2016, 10:09 pm
It takes a true visionary to look at an abandoned, weed-infested, rusty, garbage-strewn elevated train right of way and envision a lush public park in the sky.
A New Yorker, Joshua David, was that visionary. He lived on the west side of Manhattan in the shadow of the old tracks but saw its potential. Together with Robert Hammond and many converts to his improbable vision, the New York High Line has become a reality, hosting about 5 million visitors a year.
We were lucky enough to walk its 1.45 miles a few weeks ago, and the experience was exhilarating; a mix of stunning views, lush gardens of native plants and quirky art installations. It proves that great civic projects can still happen in America.
I had followed news accounts of the genesis and construction of the New York High Line, but it is not the first high line my husband and I walked on. A few months prior to visiting New York, my photographer cousin suggested we spend a day in Chicago. Being frequent visitors and fans of the Windy City, we immediately agreed. Then, much to my surprise, he asked if we wanted to walk their High Line. We did not know it existed.
Inspired by New York, Chicago’s Bloomingdale Trail, known locally as the 606 (the prefix affixed to all Chicago zip codes) is 2.7 miles. That is twice as long as Manhattan’s and it was built at less than half the cost.
Chicago’s aerial green belt is part of a larger scheme to link six parks and public art sites by a system of ramps. Chicago makes “no small plans” and is the greenest urban area in America.
The 606 High Line links many diverse neighborhoods as well. And at one point on the trail, visitors can look down on a house in the Humboldt Park Neighborhood where L. Frank Baum penned the Wizard of Oz and its famous yellow brick road.
Bravo to all who find new paths where none previously existed.
Here is a quick tour of the New York High Line.
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- Going up… West 34th St
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- The High Line spurs development
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- Native plants and skyscrapers
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- Whimsical art
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- Great views down NYC canyons
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- Find the Statue of Liberty
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- Tracks co-exist with trees
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- No caption needed
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- Finis
2 Comments for this entry
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Greetings and welcome...
The Suitcase Lady Blog is now in its fourteenth year. I am obviously a believer in these words from E. B. White. "We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry." Thank you for reading the writing that I delight in doing.
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November 30th, 2016 on 10:07 AM
You will find parks like this in Paris. BTY, you were in town and didn’t stop in?
November 30th, 2016 on 5:14 PM
Fascinating!!!
evie