High Line and Waterline
This assignment is for the purpose of generating group discussion. It is part field-based and part reading-based.
The overarching statement and question:
The success of Hudson River Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park and the High Line reflect an increased awareness of the potential value of formerly distressed and abandoned waterfront spaces. This denotes a renewed interest in NYC's formerly industrial waterfront and the city's changing relationship to its watery environs. Along with that awareness is an interest in the importance of re-introducing and protecting native flora and fauna as well as restoring existing marshes and wetlands.
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The United Nations Summit of Climate Action is taking place as we speak.
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/reports.shtml
This 2016 article from New York Magazine predicts that all the wonderful new measures taken to restore, shore up and raise coastal awareness are too little too late.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/09/new-york-future-flooding-climate-change.html
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Visit the High Line taking careful note of design, materials, flora, architectural integration, surroundings city-scape and waterscape.
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Prepare 8 discussion questions based on your trip to the High Line and the article, "This is New York in the Not So Distant Future."
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Write these questions as well as a short paragraph with citations (as needed) for each in a rich text module
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Add supporting images from the High Line as well as maps from Google Earth and other available mapping sites in a gallery module.
People will be chosen at random to lead the discussion in turns.
Useful websites:
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https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/reports.shtml
https://www.thehighline.org/about
https://www.thehighline.org/art/
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https://www.jacobinmag.com/2017/08/if-we-fail
http://files.thehighline.org.s3.amazonaws.com/pdf/FHL-ARTMAP.pdf
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Here are some sample questions:
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The success of the High Line began with a grass roots effort by neighborhood residents, who argued that the High Line's restoration and repurposing as a public park space would be economically viable. The project then progressed into an open competition, and is now an overwhelming success. Could such an approach work for Hart Island?
How is the High Lines location part of its success?
One of the most important original aspects of the High Line was its self-seeded landscape of native resilient species of plants and trees. Could the natural growth on Hart Island be part of a selling point to draw visitors? Could this interest in ecology become part of the future burial aspect as well as the park aspect of Hart Island?
One of the most persuasive reasons for the High Line's restoration were the powerful photographs of Joel Sternfeld. Do you think Melinda Hunt's on-line images have the power to convince the public of Hart Island's importance?
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