High Level Line

A visionary concept for a linear park in Edmonton, the High Level Line integrates naturalistic planting design and landscape architecture with urban mobility and public space. Inspired by iconic global precedents, this project reimagines infrastructure as living landscape.

The High Level Line is a bold proposal for transforming a key transportation corridor in Edmonton into a dynamic, plant-rich urban experience. This concept envisions a multi-use public space that reclaims underutilized infrastructure and layers it with naturalistic planting, mobility corridors, and human-centred amenities. Rather than a decorative greenway, the corridor is imagined as living infrastructure — engaging people while enhancing ecological well-being.

Inspired by New York City’s High Line, the design incorporates historic streetcars, cycling and pedestrian routes, and engaging plantings that evolve with the seasons. The planting strategy draws from Alberta’s natural landscapes — referencing meadows, dry grasslands, and scrublands — while applying contemporary techniques shaped by Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury. These compositions prioritize biodiversity, structure, and seasonal interest, offering visual and ecological richness throughout the year.

At its core, the project challenges conventional urban greening. Rather than treating ecology as decoration, the High Level Line positions it as a central design driver — capable of supporting pollinators, improving air quality, reducing stormwater runoff, and facilitating meaningful human-nature interactions. It calls for an urban future that is more adaptive, generous, and alive.

Explore more immersive, plant-driven projects where landscape meets ecology.