The New High Line Park in New York City

The new High Line Park, which opened in June 2009 on the lower west side of Manhattan, is a great example of how an ugly, obsolete structure can be transformed into a beautiful, even magical public space.

The site was originally an elevated railroad, but the trains stopped running in 1980. Property owners tried to get the structure torn down, but neighborhood residents got together and successfully campaigned to preserve the space and turn it into an open public space.

Today, the High Line is one of the most unusual parks anywhere, a long narrow slice of concrete several stories up in the air, running around and sometimes through buildings, providing eye-level views of upper-story windows, and views of the river a block away on one side, and the Empire State Building, off in the distance, on the other. There is only one path, and it travels the length of the park - this is one park where you don't have to worry about getting lost!

There are several access points. If you choose to enter on 14th Street, and you walk over from the subway, along the way you will pass through the chic meatpacking district, passing cute restaurants with tables on the street and expensive designer boutiques which display clothing as if it were in a museum.

After you climb the stairs or take the elevator up to the park, you might feel as if you were in a slightly different universe, one that is an unusual combination of busy urban environment and wild meadow. Grasses and flowers grow around the old railroad tracks, and they seem more natural than landscaped. In fact, the plantings were designed to evoke the way that wild grasses seeded themselves around the tracks after the trains had stopped running.

On a late afternoon on a sunny Saturday in May, the park was crowded, but not unbearably so. Although there was a bit of a bottleneck at a few points where the path narrowed, you could keep on moving, and there were plenty of places to sit down. Both tourists and locals were there, enjoying the day - and everyone seemed delighted to be there. There were a lot more smiling faces than you usually see in Manhattan.

As of early June 2010, the park was still not finished. It ran from Gansevoort Street (a block south of West 12th Street) on the south end up to 20th Street on the north end. Eventually, it will go all the way up to 30th Street.

There is also a "water feature" that is under construction, which looks like it will simulate hanging out around a pool - and there are already wooden chaise lounges in place. At some point, food vendors will be setting up shop.

There are performances, classes and other events. Check the High Line official website for more information.

Tip: At this point, there is only one bathroom on the High Line, and it is easy to miss. It's on 16th Street - look for the orange banner.

For more information, including maps and access points, see the official High Line website.