The High Line

We recently had the pleasure of walking the High Line in New York City, once one of the most unnatural spaces imaginable. It was an abandoned elevated rail line 30 feet above street level. It is now a 1.4-mile-long linear park with natural landscaping. It’s not limited to native plants, but the plant selection was inspired by plants which grew on the disused track. The High Line is only 30–50 ft wide and 18–24 inches deep, but it features about 400 species of plants. It attracts millions of visitors annually and has inspired cities throughout the US to create public spaces from obsolete infrastructure. The High Line’s creation was community driven. A nonprofit organization called Friends of the High Line was formed in 1999 by Joshua David and Robert Hammond, who advocated its reuse as public open space. They completed the first phase in 2009.

Walking the High Line on a busy fall afternoon the dry and browning plants were captivating. One of the informative signs says High Line horticulturists prioritize plant form and structure: “Rather than selecting plants for their short-lived blooms in peak season, the full annual lifecycle of the plant is considered — including the beauty of their skeletal forms in winter.” We’re often struck by how great our bluff looks in winter, as well.