In the early 2000s, an abandoned rail line in Manhattan sat decaying - a memory from a time when freight trains traveled straight through the city. To most citizens, it was a site destined for demolition. However, a few visionary residents saw an opportunity in this neglected space and advocated to transform it into a public green space for the community. The success of the project seemed to spark a "High Line Effect", inspiring other American cities to pursue civic infrastructure on outdated railways, roadways, and industrial sites.
Across the United States, cities are reimagining and reinvigorating abandoned infrastructure. Parks and community spaces built on derelict sites have the potential to drive economic revitalization in neighborhoods. The High Line in New York City celebrated for its recreation of natural habitats within the city's landscape, was one of the earliest and most high-profile examples of transforming abandoned infrastructure into a public space in this manner.
