The Manhattan Green Line
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128837)
Gainesville, Florida
February 23, 2016 7:21pm CST
Have any of you ever heard of the High Line or the Low Line in Manhattan in New York City? The High Line and Low Line focused on transforming unused infrastructure (old abandoned subway and railcar lines) into beautiful, functional green space in a city known for its concrete jungles. Essentially, city planners created new parks in old abandoned infrastructure.
Well, something new is about to pop up in New York City, literally! Called the Green Line, a new proposal is underway to turn about 40 blocks of Broadway (right smack in the middle of NYC) into green space. Essentially, a new park could potentially appear in one of the busiest parts of Manhattan!
Proponents of the plan think that the new green space will help bring new businesses to the neighborhood, help filter stormwater runoff, and help protect the city's overloaded sewer system.
What do you think about cities like NYC transforming concrete and steal into valuable green space? Do you think it's a fad...a fashionable trend related to new urbanism...or do you think it's the wave of the future? Personally, I think urban planners are finally starting to realize the value of nature, and are starting to bring nature back into our cities!
8 people like this
9 responses
@inertia4 (27978)
• United States
25 Feb 16
I think Broadway is not the right place for this. it is already crazy there and there is no room for the traffic. They need to divert some traffic there and all over the city. I understand they want to restrict vehicle from coming into the city. But that won't work because there are already too many cabs there. Maybe bringing back trolly service might help reduce some cab traffic. The city is a mess right now.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27978)
• United States
25 Feb 16
@moffittjc It's all about the money here. It has become unlivable now. If you don't have lots of money, don't bother living here. I wish I could get out now. They ruined NYC in my opinion.
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Feb 16
@inertia4 Are you in the city? What part?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Feb 16
Every time I am in NYC, it seems like every major street is under some kind of construction! And I'm not talking about just patching potholes or repaving asphalt, it always seems like they are digging up the streets to get at whatever is underneath the roads! There's got to be a better solution for repairing subterranean infrastructure without closing off and digging up all the streets!
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60812)
• Perth, Australia
11 Mar 18
@moffittjc I would LOVE to visit Manhattan! I don't know why or what it is but just the name alone makes me want to visit lol just sounds so darn fancy!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Mar 18
We should go! It's my favorite city. I try to go at least once a year to visit, if not more. New York City is such a magical place, and so full of history. It's so vibrant and cultured as well.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Mar 18
@VivaLaDani13 You have to get to Texas first, then Florida second, and then we can worry about New York after that! lol
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60812)
• Perth, Australia
12 Mar 18
@moffittjc I'd love to!!!! 
If it can all fall into place then I would love to go with you!
If it can all fall into place then I would love to go with you!1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 16
Another big trend right now is called "pop-up parks." They're portable green spaces that can be set up temporarily in streets, parking lots, or on sidewalks. It usually involves laying out some sod or grass, bringing in a few potted plants or trees, and setting up some café tables or park benches. It's a really neat concept and easy to implement!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382307)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 16
I'm really not sure of the reason but I think this is a great idea. Perhaps it's to do with 'you don't know what you've got till you're lost it' syndrome.
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 16
Well, more and more research continues to come out showing how beneficial nature is to human beings. It helps calm and relax us, makes us feel better, boosts our immune system, makes us feel happier, and gives us a sense of peace and tranquility. That's just what it does to humans. In economic terms, property (houses or businesses) that are adjacent to parks have a much higher value than similar properties that are not near parks. Research has shown that the closer you are located to a park, the higher your property values are.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Feb 16
@JudyEv I have lived in both the concrete jungles of the city and the lonely, emptiness of the forest. I would prefer the outlying forest area any day over the city life. I feel so much more at ease and at peace when I am among the trees!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382307)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 16
@moffittjc Certainly people like living near parks and gardens. If I had to live in suburbia I'd be looking for a park too.
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
26 Feb 16
I love the idea, more flower and green grass everywhere.
1 person likes this
@riteeshpatidar9026 (504)
•
28 Feb 16
I don't have any idea about that(HIGH LINE OR LOW LINE) but I know the name of the place new York and Manhattan !!!!!
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Feb 16
High Line and Low Line are old abandoned railroad and subway tracks that city officials have transformed into beautiful new parks. The High Line was an elevated railway over the streets of New York, so now they have turned them into parks.
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 16
I think NYC has had so much success in transforming sections of their city into functional green space that it is something they will continue doing long into the future.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
24 Feb 16
That sounds like a fantastic idea to me. I hope they are successful.
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 16
They have already been successful in other green space additions in their city, so I think they are just continuing to build on those successes. There has been a tremendous positive public response to their efforts to install more green space in the city. San Francisco is another city that has been tremendously successful doing this.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22244)
• United States
24 Feb 16
I think it's cool. I had done an article about that kind of thing, but it wasn't for NY. As as it doesn't end up like The Lorex movie where it's plastic trees everywhere. lol
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 16
That would be the worst if they started putting plastic trees everywhere! Fortunately, these are all going to be real trees. I also read last night that their doing another green space project in Times Square, but it is not permanent. They're calling it "public art," and they're going to "build" a modular and portable "park" that they can set up overnight, leave it for a few days, and then dismantle it and move on to another location. This way, they can create a "park" literally overnight in just about any neighborhood in NYC! I think it's a pretty cool idea! A traveling park!
1 person likes this
