But Hammond’s and David’s enterprise began to gain momentum in the years to come. One major impetus towards their changing fortune was the important precedent set by the Promenade Plantée in Paris, a successfully converted elevated rail viaduct. The now three-mile-long pedestrian walkway became living proof that the High Line idea wasn’t as implausible as it originally seemed.

The other catalyst was that elusive factor that inexorably gets things done in America: celebrity support. First it was Kevin Bacon, who unexpectedly made an appearance at the Friends of the High Line’s first fundraiser. Then others began to catch the buzz and gradually threw their support behind the cause – celebrities as diverse as Steve Carell, Glenn Close, David Bowie, and Edward Norton – all attracted by the promise of revitalizing the city with such a rich cultural tradition.

The High Line, twenty-five years ago an abandoned pile of rusted steel and wildlife, may become one of the hippest places to be in NYC

By this point, optimism was again growing and the possibilities seemed endless. Somewhere along the way, a light bulb must have gone off in the mind of Mayor Bloomberg, and he decided to throw his support behind the project.

The proposal which initially seemed impossible is now a reality. The first segment of the High Line Park, from Ganesvoort Street to 20th Street is set to finally open to the public in Summer 2008, while the rest of the park will continue to open in increments until 2016. The greenway will allow a sublime view of the urban Manhattan skyline from a rural oasis. The project will cost about $65 million.