SOLIDQUALITY

On a recent weekend, my family and I checked out the newly opened High Line park. Overall, I think the the idea and concept of the park is a very cool one. Make a green space free to the public out of a wasted space that cuts through a neighborhood recently seeing a rejuvenation, seems to be as good idea as anything I heard recently.

I guess one of the unique aspects of the High Line space is its location and size. The size cause it is so long really gives great views of the skyline and riversides. But the width is also a challenge. How to effectively move people along it while keeping enough room for greenery and the like.

The day I went was really crowded. It was hard to move around and I think appreciate the finer points of the park. It may have had to do with the access points available that day, most were closed, and it caused a lot of crowding to occur. Once they all open perhaps that will get better. Also, once the park is expanded and larger rest areas completed that will allow people to spread more evenly along its path. I am anxious to see it when it is complete.

The landscape design made you feel like you were in a park, but still retained the sense of the former use of the railroad tracks. And the vegetation selection even refers to the in between wild state that consumed the tracks after they were closed. Wild flowers and grasses mixed with concrete, steel tracks and dark wood really gives hope for urban blight. I mean, it really takes vision to make these materials feel inviting and complementary to the buildings/environs around.

See my photos on Flickr here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/solidquality/sets/72157620983752979/

Learn more about it here:
http://www.thehighline.org/