For gardening lovers, there is a amazing structured park located in New York City; the name of the park is High Line Park. The 2,3 km park was built on an old section for elevated freight railroad called West Side Line which situated in the lower west side of Manhattan.
History of High Line Park
The railway highline was initially built in 1934 for facilitate transport to factories and warehouses. In 1990 the railway became unused and full wild grasses, shrubs, and trees that had sprung along the abandoned railway. In 1999, New York’s Mayor at that time Rudy Giuliani had planned to demolish the railway. However, two neighborhood residences Robert Hammond and Joshua David were against the demolition of the famous railway. Instead, they created a community of friends living in that neighborhood to push the idea to turn railway into a green railway park inspired by Paris “promenade plantée”.
Promenade Plantée, Paris
A-list construction participators
After years of fund raising and advocacy by Hammond and David, in 2006 Michael Bloomberg opened the construction of the railway. The reconstruction of the railway involved several big names from different fields such as:
- James Corner a famous landscape architect
- Elizabeth Diller and Ricardo Scofidio from Diller Scofidio + Renfro
- Piet Oudolf, a dutch garden designer
- Diane von Fuerstenberg + family.
- Etc
Awards and acknowledgment
In April 2010, Rockefeller foundation announced that Joshua David, Robert Hammond, and Elizabeth Barlow Rogers alongside Elizabeth Barlow Rogers (the President of the Central Park Conservancy and current President of the Foundation for Landscape Studies) received an Jane Jacobs Medals from for their participation in the making of High Line Park.
Both of them received each $60,000 for their contribution
Plants and flowers
All along the park, the train rail is kept intact in order to guard the history of the park. On each side of the park, you can see different types of flowers and plants.
During summer time, the most notable summer flowers that make High Line Park even more beautiful for tourists and visitors are the compass plant (Silphium perfoliatum) and handsome Harry (Rhexia virginica)
Compass plant
Handsome Harry
Pictures of High Line Park, NYC
One of the most famous buildings that stand on top of the High Line is the famous Standard Hotel NYC built by Hotel developer Andre Balazs, that stands tall on top of the Highline Park, such a wonderful view.
Standard Hotel NYC, view from High Line Park
Comfortable seating area
The best area of the park; near 17th Street, a view direct of the street through glass
View from the street below
-P-
Source: The Highline
Awards and acknowledgment
In April 2010, Rockefeller foundation announced that Joshua David, Robert Hammond, and Elizabeth Barlow Rogers alongside Elizabeth Barlow Rogers (the President of the Central Park Conservancy and current President of the Foundation for Landscape Studies) received an Jane Jacobs Medals from for their participation in the making of High Line Park.
Both of them received each $60,000 for their contribution
