When the elevated freight railway that runs above the west side of Manhattan was built between 1929 and 1934 it became known as the "lifeline of New York" – a gritty industrial artery carrying carcasses into the literally named Meatpacking district.
Eighty years later this stretch of steel and gravel on stilts has become a lifeline of the city all over again, except this time the carcasses that trundle along it are alive, and human. The High Line has been planted with 210 species of trees, shrubs and grasses selected for their native relevance and hardiness.
For an investment of just $115m (£70m) to convert the rusty tracks of the railway into an elegant walkway, the city authorities have attracted an estimated $2bn in private money to the neighbourhood.
While I was visiting I loved how the New Yorkers were making the most of this space by taking a book up, or chatting with friends, sitting on the benches and loungers that bordered the garden path. I really loved this spot for people watching as there was such a huge range of characters there. I especially loved the 'native' New Yorkers such as the man playing steel drums, the volunteer gardeners and the people coming up for a quite moment on their lunch breaks.
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