Major kudos to Amanda Burden and her team for turning this:
into this:
The High Line is the epitome of what great design can do, namely transforming what was outdated and neglected (an elevated freight rail line) into something inviting, beautiful, and functional (a public park). Every detail just works, from the blend of rustic and modern in the materials and color scheme, to the benches that are an extension of the wooden slats that form the walkway, to the amphitheater style seating with views of the city streets below, to the original train tracks peeking out from underneath the greenery.
The landscaping was my favorite element. Different sections of the park feature different groupings of plants, some of which smelled absolutely amazing. At one point I actually felt like I could have been in the English countryside, no easy feat in New York City.
