Garden in the Sky

NEW YORK — While vacationing here last June, one evening our gracious host Lia Martinez arrived home declaring, “We just came from the High Line! It’s great!” After seeing my bewildered expression she plopped down the latest issue of TimeOut on the counter table, its cover featuring the elevated garden. “It’s a garden in the sky!” she beamed, proudly.This I had to see for myself. We scheduled a day, took the trip, and sure enough, there it was, over the Meat Packing District on Manhattan’s West Side: the High Line.

The High Line is a horticulture preserve that makes use of a decommissioned station originally built in the 1930s that kept New York City freight trains from clogging up the system.

A non-profit organization called the Friends of the High Line, along with the city of New York itself, is responsible for the conversion of the existing transportation infrastructure into a public park, in an area that could well use it.

Designed by James Corner Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the park’s got a very modern design, all clean lines and a good integration with the plant life.

Some of the walk’s concrete outskirts have seams for plants to grow through, for example. Even the lampposts are modern looking, with movable deck chairs and stone benches along the path, and the occasional licensed concession stand offering drinks and baked goods, proceeds of which benefit the Friends of the High Line.Though it currently extends to Chelsea, by next year Section 2 of the High Line will be completed and extend all the way to Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen.While walking the park you will find excellent views of Manhattan’s streets, as well as the Hudson River and the city’s skyline. Some of the buildings you’ll see are architectural landmarks, including ones designed by acclaimed architect Frank Gehry.

One of the buildings you actually get to pass under while walking the length of the High Line is the New York Standard Hotel designed by architectural firm Polshek Partnership. We saw many families and couples, as well as others using movable deck chairs to sunbathe. Others were just chilling out, reading books in the sun and enjoying the cool breeze.

Friends of the High Line’s fundraising efforts include walking tours, art workshops, and eventual merchandise. The group seems very dedicated to the public park, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a lovely breather in the middle of a bustling city, for locals and tourists alike, and it’s a great idea to convert unused infrastructure. This isn’t the first of its kind, though; there’s the Promenade Plantee in Paris and other US cities have infrastructure conversion projects of their own already in various stages of development. In Manila, SM North Edsa’s Sky Garden is a start. Let’s hope more of these come up in Metro Manila.

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Ramon De Veyra blogs at www.thesecuriousdays.com