On Thursday September 20, I went to visit the High Line with a few of my classmates. The High Line is an elevated railroad that was used to carry freight between buildings up until the 1980s. It is located between 10th and 11th avenue and runs from Gansevoort Street to West 34th street. The High Line was in threat of being demolished in the early 2000s but a group called Friends of the High Line decided that it needed to be saved. They vouched for the High Line to be transformed into a public park and construction on this project began in June 2006, with the first section of the park opening in 2009.
A fly sitting on a flower
The High Line is a very interesting and beautiful place. It is so unusual to see so much nature not only in an urban environment, but also living and thriving on something that had an industrial use. What makes the High Line even more interesting are the findings of the study called “The Flora of the High Line” by Richard Statler. This study found that the High Line actually has a very high amount of species diversity. In fact, the High Line had more species per hectare than Ellis Island, Liberty Island, Hoffman Island, and Bayswater State Park. These findings are hard to believe because one would think that there would be not that many species in such an urban environment. The species diversity at the High Line really makes me appreciate it more.
A red bug
A bee pollinating a flower
The High Line fits Emma Marris’ concept of a “Rambunctious Garden.” Marris’ main point is that we should not isolate nature is a so-called pristine state, but let nature adapt to its modern surroundings. Marris argues that nature is very resilient and can survive in urban environments and that it is better to practice this kind of conservation rather than isolating nature. The High Line proves Marris’ point that nature is resilient and can adapt. Even though it is located in a very urban area, the High Line has species diversity and hosts many pollinators.
The High Line is one of the finer points in New York City. It provides a nice retreat to a quiet area that is still in the city. It is home to a variety of species that would not have been in that area of the city if not for the High Line. The High Line is a marvel of nature that adds a lot of value to New York City.
sources:
http://www.thehighline.org/about/high-line-history
Statler, Richard. “The Flora of the High Line.” The Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 131.4 (2004): 387-393. Print.
