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Read the press release here.

High Line Speaker Series Highlights Ways of Reclaiming Abandoned Space

By Mathew Katz | June 16, 2013 10:29am
 Transforming the Reading Viaduct in Philidelphia is one of the projects that will be discussed in "Beyond the High Line."
Transforming the Reading Viaduct in Philidelphia is one of the projects that will be discussed in "Beyond the High Line."
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Friends of the High Line

CHELSEA — For the second year in a row, Friends of the High Line wants to show that the idea of a park made out of reclaimed abandoned space can work in other cities — and on Staten Island.

Starting in late June, the park will host a series of talks on projects in Philadelphia, Colombia and Staten Island that, like the High Line, aim to reclaim unused places for the public.

"Beyond the High Line" launched last year with talks about similar projects in Chicago and Detroit

The first free talk, on June 24, will feature competing plans for Philadelphia's Reading Viaduct, an old passenger railway just north of the city's center. Paul Levy of Center City District and Leah Murphy of Friends of the Rail Park will each present their plans for the space.

The next event in the series, on July 15, will feature a panel discussion on how public space creates equitable cities, featuring activist and consultant Majora Carter along with Enrique Penalosa, former mayor of Bogota, Colombia.

Finally, the last talk on Sept. 23 will focus on plans to build a public park at the former Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island, which was once the nation's largest municipal dump. Landscape architect James Corner and Eloise Hirsh of the city's Parks Department will be on hand to discuss plans for the new park.

All three talks are free and kick off 6:30 p.m. on the High Line, at West 14th Street. A full schedule is available on the High Line's website.