Explore 6 High Line-Inspired Copy Cats Changing Cities Across the Globe

High Line Copycats

Since its opening in 2009, the mind-blowing success of New York City's High Line has taken the world by storm—and it now seems like every city wants an elevated park of their own. Although the Chelsea-based linear rail park isn't the first of its kind, NYC’s elevated greenway sparked a perfect storm for architecture, landscape architecture, and place-making to flourish under the umbrella of urban renewal. As we wait for the High Line's third and final phase to open this fall, we've rounded up some of the greatest High Line-inspired copycats rising up around the globe. Click through to see them all!

reading viaduct high line copy cat

sydney the goods line high line copycat

Sydney's The Goods Line Sydney recently started construction on their version of the High Line: a public greenway called The Goods Line to be completed by the end of 2015. Located in the inner-city suburb Ultimo, the former disused rail corridor will be transformed into a 500-meter-long urban pedestrian and cycle network. Building on the spirit of the High Line, the Goods Line will offer pop-up performance and restaurant spaces, art installations, and will even be active as a nighttime destination.

chicago bloomingdale trail high line copycat

Chicago's "The 606" Bloomingdale Trail Following in the footsteps of NYC's High Line, Chicago commissioned a world-renowned landscape architecture firm (Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates) to transform an abandoned freight line into an elevated green park. Dubbed "The 606," the multi-use Bloomingdale Trail comprises a 2.7-mile park and trail system that will connect four Chicago neighborhoods with arts and recreational space. Construction on the project's first phase broke ground last year with completion expected late this fall.

philadelphia reading viaduct high line copycat

Philadelphia's Reading Viaduct Project Post-industrial Philadelphia wants to do away with their "under-parked" image starting with the "Philadelphia Rail Park," a three-mile long abandoned railway-turned-elevated-park. Snaking through some of the city's most populated neighborhoods, the proposed green spine would run through the backyards of fifty city blocks and stitch together multiple cultural and artistic landmarks. Organizers behind the Philadelphia's Reading Viaduct project say that the park will differ from its NYC predecessor by cultivating a less polished, and more industrial feel.

Lowline high line copycat

New York City's LowLine The cheekily named LowLine aims to transform an abandoned trolley terminal on Manhattan's Lower East Side into the world’s first underground park. The proposed subterranean park will serve as a linear greenway similar to the High Line, however, the public space will also offer a more surreal and high-tech experience. Currently in its fundraising phase, the Lowline will use futuristic skylight design, which includes fibre optics and mirrors, to capture and redirect sunlight deep underground to sustain plant growth.

hofbogen high line copycat

Rotterdam's Hofbogen When Rotterdam looked to revitalize the once-dangerous area of Hofbogen, the Dutch city decided to turn towards the High Line-model. The first phase of the 1.9-kilometer-long viaduct project, called the Mini-Mall, was completed in 2011 and comprised the spaces above and under the viaduct's first seven arches. According to Next City, however, lack of funding is preventing the project from moving forward.

queensway high line copy cat

New York City's QueensWay The Queens borough of New York is hoping to build its own park in the sky, albeit a more modest version than its high-profile precursor from across the East River. Organizers behind the Queensway hope to transform the 3.5-mile rail corridor into an elevated pedestrian and bikeway corridor. Last month, the AIANY Emerging New York Architects Committee unveiled winning concept designs for the Queensway.