Past, Present, and Future

In the past, the highline has served as a consumption-centered space. Its original legacy lies in the transportation of meat (specifically beef) and other goods throughout downtown Manhattan, hence its position in the meatpacking district. Although it was repurposed into a public park after years of falling into disrepair (and being redefined as a space for counter-culture to thrive), it remains a consumption-centered space. The visitors are primarily tourists, walking overhead big-name brands and alongside expensive, modern apartment complexes and offices. Before this present state, when the railroad stopped running, the natural flora and fauna of the park began to grow wild and free naturally taking over the park. The future we see for this park honors those natural roots, allowing the park to veer away from the heavily curated natural spaces of the present. Perhaps this space could even honor the cows that defined the space in the first place.