The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/new-yorks-high-line-park-in-the-sky-opens-today/">High Line</a>, New York City's exciting and innovative renovated train track park, just opened its second section to the public today in a surprise unveiling - and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/about">Inhabitat</a> was on the scene to bring you exclusive coverage and photos of the new extension! <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/section-2-of-new-york-citys-high-line-park-opening-soon/">While initial renderings</a> gave us clues to the project's design features, and furtive glances up from Chelsea streets revealed some details, these teasers only served to pique our excitement. After a long wait, we were finally able to experience the Falcone Flyover, Viewing Spur, Chelsea Thicket and other poetically named High Line moments, and we descended from the experience with our heads still in the clouds. Designers <a href="http://www.fieldoperations.net/">James Corner Field Operations</a> and <a href="http://www.dsrny.com/">Diller Scofidio + Renfro</a> have created an amazing piece of urban landscape, but if you haven't had a chance to make it out to the park don't fret - read on for our exclusive sneak peek of The High Line, Section 2!

Like much of New York's population, the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/about">Inhabitat team</a> has been eagerly awaiting the opening of section two of the High Line <strong>for months</strong>. Whether peeking through the fencing at the first section's 20th Street park terminus, or following <a href="http://www.thehighline.org/">The Friends of the High Line website</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/thehighline">social media feeds</a>, we could not crack the shroud of secrecy around this much-awaited project - until today.

The journey begins at the park's 20th Street intersection, where a dense landscape of shrubs and small trees called 'The Thicket' creates an intimate space and adds to the variety of vegetation on the original line.

The High Line meanders up north through the thicket where shrubbery and trees fade away and a public plaza emerges. The 22nd Street Seating Steps and 23rd Street Lawn combine to form a pleasant lounging space - the first invitation to step off the High Line pavement and enjoy the park from within its vegetation.

The lawn of Section 2 provides a calming space space for sitting and relaxing. It is the only patch of lawn anywhere on the High Line.

A set of stadium like benches made from reclaimed teak provide seating near the new lawn.

The raised lawn near the 23rd Street entrance provides higher views of the park and a lush relaxing area for visitors.

Section 2 was designed to be more intimate and really make visitors feel like they are escaping the city.

Inhabitat NYC Editor Jess Dailey strolls along the raised platform that the High Line designers have named 'Falcone Flyover,' with Neil Denari's newly finished HL23 building in the background.

On the Falcone Flyover, perhaps the most daring feature of the entire path, visitors are propelled eight feet above the park's ground level via a steel catwalk set amidst a canopy of trees. The elevated platform is named for donors Philip A. and Lisa Maria Falcone.

The design team literally raised the bar for the High Line experience. The ascent, while not drastic in height, represents a complete shift in the architectural and spatial language of the project. Buro Happold provided the structural engineering for Section 2, which made the flyover possible. The firm used a sophisticated structure of thin columns to support the delicate "bridge on a bridge." Buro Happold wanted the structure to counterbalance the robust industrial steel structure of the High Line itself.

Immersed in trees, visitors finally feel at one with the vegetation -- a feeling that is hinted at earlier in the Chelsea Thicket.

The trees on either side are Magnolia trees, which are leggy trees that will grow tall to create a beautiful canopy that envelopes the flyover.

Within this hidden jungle, multiple metal platform "spurs" branch off in various directions to create intimate areas away from general foot traffic.

<h3><big>THE VIEWING SPUR</h3></big> One of these spurs, the "Viewing Spur" at 26th Street, abruptly drops off over the middle of the street, providing a lounging area, and viewing platform to the streets below. In addition to providing a view for visitors on top of the High Line, it also showcases High Line visitors for people on the street to see, framing them within the vestiges of a defunct billboard as a living advertisement for the park. From the rows of seats, this particular moment only stands out because it allows for unobstructed views of the city from within the Flyover, but from the street, the living advertisement and park goer exposure is clear. A pair of solid wooden bench serves as a background and balancing element for the public billboard. While exposed to the public below, those who choose to sit in front of this exhibitionist real-time billboard are comforted by the tall, warm embrace of these benches.

Another shot of the "Viewing Spur" at 26th Street - which raises visitors 8 feet off the High Line and provides an amphitheater to gaze into the traffic below.

Descending the Falcone Flyover leads you into the Wildflower Field.

The Wildflower Field is planted with a variety of native grasses and flowering plants that bloom at various points throughout the year, providing a changing band of colors and smells.

This section touches on the complex history of the High Line and its various iterations, reflecting the native flowers that became the subject of Joel Sternfeld's photographs and eventually helped save the High Line from demolition.

After being engulfed in leafy canopy, Wildflower Field provides a respite, a place to contemplate the visitor's journey as well as that of the park.

As you approach the 30th Street end from the south, you come to the long radial bench made from reclaimed teak that follows the curve of the park. The designers feel that the bench will become a well-known meeting spot on the High Line, given its appeal and proximity to the 30th Street entrance.

The designers hope that visitors see the High Line as a whole, not separate sections. During our interview with him, Ricardo Scofidio said, "My hope is that people say 'Have you been to the High Line?' not 'Have you been to Section 2?'"

<h3><big>THE CUTOUT - at 30th Street</big></h3> The current extent of the High Line leads us to 30th Street, where the Cutout exposes the past and possible future of the park. Pedestrians are once again raised above the rail line, except in this case, the original structure is exposed beneath aluminum grating at their feet. The somewhat disorienting experience serves as an explicit reminder of the beauty of the original elevated freight line, and reveals some peeks down to street level and traffic below. Structural engineers Buro Happold built the Cutout, which is the only part of the High Line that breaks the continuous path.

At the end of Section 2, you can see the rest of the elevated railroad that the Friends of the High Line are working to convert into Section 3. Robert Hammond, President and Co-Founder of the group, told us that building Section 3 is now their priority. They are currently in talks with the railroad officials, the property owners, and the city.

A public plaza called The Lot just opened up to occupy the empty lot next to the High Line at 30th Street, and for the next month, it will serve up food, kids stuff and other recreation under the surreal inflated bouncy castle-esque Rainbow City installation created by FriendsWithYou and sponsored by AOL.

Installations and activities in the lot will change throughout the summer. We can't wait to check this weirdness out!

Meandering through dense shrubs, ascending through canopies and putting its visitors on display, the High Line's Section 2 does not disappoint. This extension preserves the sustainable mission behind the groundbreaking original elevated park while delivering a variety of surprises and new experiences that enhance visitors' connection to the park and its vegetation. It also continues to add different perspectives from which to appreciate this incredible city.

We highly recommend both sections of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/high-line">High Line</a> to anyone living in or visiting <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/">New York City</a> - they're not to be missed!