But the High Line was not destroyed. In fact, now the old rail line serves as one of the most peaceful places in the city. It holds an elevated park, with carefully tended gardens, a promenade, and great views of the city. The idea to convert the rail line into a park came from Joshua David and Robert Hammond. In 1999, they attended a community meeting to decide the fate of the High Line. David and Hammond were the only people at the meeting interested in saving the historical structure. Later on, when they asked railway officials to take them up to look at the High Line, they saw a mile and a half of wildflowers growing in the middle of the city, and they realized that the High Line had the potential to become a park. There was growing interest in improving urban centers, and so the project quickly gathered momentum and funds for construction were easily obtained.
The first section of the High Line opened in 2009 and immediately became popular with tourists and locals alike. Each part of the park has a different atmosphere. Some areas are like balconies with wonderful city views. Where the rail line goes between buildings, trees are densely planted. Other sections have wide lawns and walkways planted with wildflowers. Only the final section remains the way it has been for the last fifty years – a railway line overgrown with weeds.