High Line Supporters from the Portrait Project. Photos by Tom Kletecka

When you see the High Line on blogs and in the newspapers, you often read praise for the park’s innovative design, thought-provoking artworks, extraordinary views, family activities, and the many ways it has positively impacted New York City.

But like other New York City success stories, the High Line is not immune to criticism. Just last week, you may have seen a blogger’s opinion piece regrettably titled “Disney World on the Hudson” published in The New York Times.

In the days that followed the publication of the opinion piece, we were heartened to hear from many supporters, community leaders, and neighborhood residents who also took issue with the author’s opinion. Some supporters wrote letters to The New York Times; others published their opinions on their own blogs and social media.

Follow us after the jump for a sample of the letters and messages we received.

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe is moving on to The Trust for Public Land. Photo by Tom Kletecka

This week Adrian Benepe, the commissioner of the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, leaves his post to join The Trust for Public Land.

The vines of Major Wheeler coral honeysuckle climb up the vegetal screen between West 17th and West 18th Streets. Stop by this week to enjoy its bright red blooms. Photo by Patrick Cullina

The High Line’s planting design is inspired by the self-seeded landscape that grew up between rail tracks after the trains stopped running in the 1980s. Today, the High Line includes more than 300 species of perennials, grasses, shrubs, and trees – each chosen for their hardiness, adaptability, diversity, and seasonal variation in color and texture. Some of the species that originally grew on the High Line’s rail bed are reflected in the park landscape today.

This week we share with you one of our gardeners’ current favorites.