High Line Points to Possibilities
I was up in New York City recently and was told about High Line Park. The High Line was originally constructed in the 1930s, to lift dangerous freight trains off Manhattan’s streets. In June, parts of the High Line were opened to the public as a city park. When all sections are complete, the High Line will be a mile-and-a-half-long elevated park, running through the West Side neighborhoods of the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen. It made me dream about what we might do in Charleston with our miles and miles of unused track. It also did what Charleston is known for, bring the history of the place to the forefront.
Where once there was overgrown weeds and crime, now they have this impressive park. The day I was there, a Wednesday afternoon, it was packed with people. You don’t get that sense from my images as I was so taken with the plantings. The designers incorporated a native pallet that is weaved throughout the space. Elements of the hardscape pay homage to the fact that it was a working set of tracks. The views out onto the water are pretty spectacular. Being imersed in this landscape was an experience, one that will bring me back for sure the next time I am in NYC.