The city recently acquired the final stretch of the High Line, the portion that meanders between 30th and 34th streets. It will be developed into an extension of the park that begins in the Meatpacking District, and open possibly in 2014.

As it is now, this last stretch is a true thing of beauty. Left to me, I wouldn’t touch a thing, but then, I suppose, you couldn’t have hordes of people sauntering through in its present condition.

Here’s how I described the stretch after my visit during Open House New York last year:

From 30th to 34th streets, the High Line’s nothernmost fringe remains undeveloped, with industrial detritus mixing with flora that vary with the microclimates – you see shrubs, grasslands, flowers, evergreens, even a little “lake.” It’s an amazing sight, and was open to the public for Open House New York in October 2011. Enjoy these images, and begin to understand the remarkable melding of untended nature and neglected infrastructure — enhanced with stirring Manhattan vistas — that drew people to this elevated relic in the first place.

I’ll let the photos speak for themselves. Click below to explore my Flickr set of 43 images. Should your browser not display the embed below, or if you’re checking on mobile, click HERE.

Text and photos: Rolando Pujol

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