The High Line park is a park in New York City that is built on a repurposed freight line.
The High Line park is a success and a direct result of using parameters to build transformative public spaces.
The High Line park isn't your typical city park. It is owned by the city of New York, but operated and maintained by Friends of the High Line, a nonprofit that raises and contributes nearly 100% of the High Line's annual budget. This unique relationship benefits everyone involved.
The city gets a thriving communal space for nearly zero investment.
The park is meticulously maintained and features artists, musicians, and other groups on a regular basis.
Park visitors get a unique experience, leaving inspired by the results of transforming a railroad to a park.
Other cities see an example of a sustainable park building that they can apply to their own cities.
The High Line park faced its fair share of problems and setbacks before opening. Many of these parameters and challenges had a profound impact on the end result.
The site was nearly demolished, but the local community stepped in to raise awareness and voice their desire for more public land. That community voice is felt while visiting the park, by keeping elements from the original railway intact.
The High Line team is dedicated to showcasing the park as an example of sustainable business practices. To align with that goal, all the greenery has been specifically chosen to thrive and contribute towards a certain ambiance at the park. The care and thoughtfulness in these decisions is obvious, as the park is beautiful and well maintained.
The materials used throughout the park have significance. When the team began the project, they removed all the abandoned rail line to prepare the site. Once the tracks were pulled and the structures were completed, the tracks were brought back to be repurposed as design elements and art installations.
By understanding and leveraging the tangible parameters they were given, the High Line team created a park that tells a clear story about its own existence. By focusing on the details and creating unique experiences from the materials they were given, they have created a case study for other cities to use as they look for similar opportunities of their own.