From an urban food forest to an abandoned elevated rail system, to a climate-resilient waterfront park—relive the High Line Teens' field trip with us. ... Last month, High Line Teens explored two inspiring public spaces in Long Island City: Dutch Kills Loop and Hunter's Point South Park. Dutch Kills Loop (@dutchkillsloop)is a proposed 1.2-mile circuit of open space and waterfront access, centered around the Dutch Kills tributary of Newtown Creek. Starting the Loop at Smiling Hogshead Ranch, the teen staff learned about the guerilla gardening that transformed this abandoned space into an urban food forest in 2011. The stewards of this space adhere to a collective garden plan, sharing the space and its harvest equally. Throughout the city, and especially at the ranch, the invasive spotted lantern fly poses a threat to the plants. Instead of using chemical pest control practices, our teen staff learned the least harmful way to combat these pests: squishing them. Following the old train tracks, our teens explored and envisioned a new life for an overgrown, elevated rail system—sound familiar? 😏 This industrial center was once bustling with trains exporting goods, like Chiclets and YKK zippers. From marshland to factory hub, to today's abandoned open space, our teen staff saw unlimited potential for Dutch Kills Loop. After exploring a proposed post-industrial public space, our teens visited an actualized one: Hunter's Point South Park (@licwaterfront). This new park covers 10 acres along the East River waterfront. Subject to flood risks, the teens learned how design can help restore natural resiliency for this neighborhood. The park features bioswales (landscaping to capture stormwater runoff) along the edge of the park and berms (natural barriers to thwart river overflow during storm surges) along the waterfront. At the end of a hot day, the teens found respite in the breeze from the river and shade from the willows.