Manhattan's High Line is a new model for reclaiming underused spaces and turning them into successful public spaces. Phase 2 of the ambitious park opened yesterday to much fanfare.
The ASLA blog team was there for opening day, and writes that the new segment packs "a rich array of experiences" into its 1/2 mile of former railroad trestle:
"At 23rd street, there's a new lawn and steps. Working with the existing infrastructure, the designers used the wider segment, once comprised of an extra set of rail tracks for offloading cargo, to create a larger gathering space. The steps anchor a 4,900-square foot lawn. At its north end, the lawn lifts visitors a few feet into the air, offering them views of 'Brooklyn to the east, and the Hudson River and New Jersey to the west.'"
FULL STORY: High Line Phase 2 Now Open
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Placer County
Mayors' Institute on City Design
City of Sunnyvale
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), the Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP)
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
City of Portland, ME
Baton Rouge Area Foundation