ABSTRACT
The projects in this chapter showcase the work of landscape architects that re-energized older city centers by creating public greenways utilizing abandoned railways. The projects located in New York City and Sydney, Australia transformed the abandoned railways into public parkways. They were the catalyst transforming degraded industrial neighborhoods into valuable multiple-use commercial and residential developments in addition to public multi-use greens places. With the new development came a new infusion in their city's tax base as well as served as an economic engine attracting tourists as well as local citizens and new businesses. The projects were developed reimagining the role public spaces could have in creating connected, healthy neighborhoods. In the case of the elevated New York City High Line rail line, it was earlier considered for demolition. It was saved from demolition by neighborhood activists and later by the city wishing to adapting the historic structure to meet needed public park space.
