BY: JESSICA BEUKER

Above the bustling metropolis of New York City, spans the 2.33 kilometre-long High Line. The High Line, a park in Manhattan that was built upon an elevated section of abandoned railroad space, has become one of New York’s biggest gems. Beautiful greenery, unique art and spectacular views of the city skyline are just a few of the things that the High Line offers to its nearly five million yearly visitors.

Now, inspired by the High Line, a new park has been proposed for the concrete jungle. Building off of an old trolley stop underneath the Lower East Side, the Lowline, according to Fast Company, would be the “gritty first-cousin of the more illustrious tourist attraction on the west side.”

The Lowline is inspired by the city’s 2.33 kilometre-long High Line.

Currently, an exhibit called ‘The Lowline Lab” is acting as a preview of what the real Lowline could become, which is a “plant-filled subterranean oasis,” according to Fast Company. The lab, which is only five per cent of the actual size, features hundreds of plant species. The plants will thrive in the environment because of a complex system that involves three solar collectors on ground level, tracking the sun’s rays, collecting the light into tubes and feeding it underground to be dispersed through a roofing panel.

‘The Lowline Lab” is acting as a preview of what the real Lowline could become, which is a “plant-filled subterranean oasis.”

There will be a complex system that involves solar collectors on ground level, tracking the sun’s rays, collecting the light into tubes and feeding it underground to be dispersed through a roofing panel.

Unfortunately, the Lowline has yet to receive funding or get approval from the space’s owners—New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The park, which would take up an acre of land, was first introduced in 2011. Board member on the project, Signe Nielsen, hopes the project could be finalized by 2020.

Wired spoke to the creators of the project, James Ramsey and Daniel Barasch, and got a peek inside the lab. Watch the video below.

Image souring: fastcoexist.com