Dear readers,

    In the blink of an eye, winter break has come and gone. I enjoyed a very relaxing month, and embarked on many fun adventures. My favorite was touring one of New York City’s landmarks — Highline Park.

    Highline Park is not like any traditional, enclosed park. It’s not entirely filled with grass fields, fresh ponds, or other traces of nature. Extending from Gansevoort Street to West 34th, the mile-long urban park sits on the former site of an elevated railroad track.

    I entered the park from the 14th Street entrance, and walked all the way to 30th Street, astonished by the modern, unconventional twisted landscape of the park. Most of the park consists of stretches of hard ground and diverse plants growing along the borders. At intersections, I got breathtaking views of the busy city — cars, buses and yellow taxis roamed past on the street below us; the headlights, street lights and traffic lights blinked and flashed in tandem against the golden sky at dust made for an iconic shot of the city. Besides the views, I was most amused by the creative architectural touches of the landscape. Benches were placed throughout the park, for people (like me) to sit on once every few blocks. Each set of benches had a unique look. One was wooden and wide, with an inclined back and enough room for your legs. The bench was large enough for six or seven people to take a nap on! The park was complemented by interesting buildings in the surrounding area. One building resembled deconstructive architecture, with irregular shapes throughout, while another was constructed with patterned pieces of glass tinted in various shades of blue that shone a distinct reflection under the sun.

    Though it was a long walk, I thoroughly enjoyed examining the greenery, city scenery and modern touches of the park, and couldn’t help imagine what living there would feel like. If you’re wondering the same, you might find an answer — there are many beautiful apartments in the park, and I’m sure the local residents could tell you a thing or two about living in an urban park in the city.

    Highline Park is a great attraction to visit. It is a public park, and best of all, there are plenty of benches for you to rest on, since you will definitely feel compelled to walk and enjoy the entire length of the park.

    Sincerely,

    Bingyin

    Li Bingyin is studying finance at the Stern School of Business at New York University.