The High Line, c'est ici

I've been greatly looking forward to the development of the High Line in New York, but it turns out they've already got one here in Paris. And it is lovely.

As in New York, it's an elevated former rail viaduct that has been turned into a linear park. It has been open for several years now and seems quite popular with Parisians of all ages. Here are some views:


There are some obvious differences from the one in New York, of course, starting with the fact that the "promenade plantee" runs through a middle-class residential neighborhood near the Gare de Lyon, not through an industrial wasteland as in New York's West Chelsea. Except for one or two modern apartment buildings, the Parisian one is completely disconnected from its surroundings, while plans are to weave the High Line tightly into the fabric of the neighborhood with some impressive modern architecture.

Overall, I think the New York project has a chance to be even more successful than this is. And what has already happened here seems to be a good omen.