The High Line: A Secret New York

What I love most about the High Line Park is feeling like I've entered into a secret New York. Every time I go, I get that treehouse feeling, like I'm a member of a special club whose only purpose is to hang out and enjoy a beautiful view. Built several stories above the street on an abandoned railroad line, the park weaves in and out of the Meatpacking District up into Chelsea. From below it's hard to imagine how there could be such a thing.

You feel a little like you're walking a tightrope in the sky, only you don't have to worry about falling off.

 

Up above the street all is serene.

There is even a "theater" for viewing the street action beneath you. Just in case it wasn't clear from the moment you climbed the High Line's steps, here you really can feel as though you've left your worries down below.

The natural world seamlessly blends into the industrial, with native plants sprouting up through railroad tracks. The design is intentional, although it  reminds me of the haunting book The World Without Us. If all humans suddenly disappeared from the earth, I imagine things would start to look like this.

Two more sections of the park are scheduled to open, with section two opening in June (here's a little sneak preview). Section Two will feature an expanse of lawn perfect for picnics.

 

I can't wait to see what sort of feelings the second (and third) sections evoke.