Repost This Article“IMAGINE PEOPLE LYING ON A SUBTERRANEAN LAWN,” James Ramsey told the Village Voice. Until I read that line I couldn’t fully grasp how badass this project really is. Like all great ideas, it’s actually super simple: if you live in an urban area with no available green space, create it underground.
Delancey Underground visionaries Dan Barasch and James Ramsey are working with the MTA and local communities in Manhattan’s Lower East Side to transform the former Williamsburg trolley terminal (out of commission since 1948) into the world’s first underground park.
Remote skylight. Rendering by raad studio.
Cutting-edge solar technology: “Remote Skylight”
To build the park, the team has invented a new technology called a “remote skylight.”
The remote skylight uses “a system of optics to gather sunlight, concentrate it, and reflect it below ground, where it is dispersed by a solar distributor dish embedded in the ceiling. The light irrigated underground will carry the necessary wavelengths to support photosynthesis — meaning we can grow plants, trees, and grasses underground. The cables block harmful UV rays that cause sunburn, so you can leave the SPF-45 at home.”
Community support and next steps
The project has already gotten “a ton of support from the community and the city,” and the next step is to create a full-scale installation of the technology and concept as a demonstration for the MTA, the community, and supporters, who are welcome to visit.
Please see the Lowline Project’s Kickstarter page for more information and to become a supporter. 
David Miller
David Miller is Senior Editor of Matador (winner of 2010 and 2011 Lowell Thomas awards for travel journalism) and Director of Curricula at MatadorU. Follow him @dahveed_miller.
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Wow. I really hope this comes to fruition. The Highline just keeps getting better (community events, school programs) and has transformed its neighborhood. I would to see the same happen on the LES (and hang out in a subterranean park)
Seem like a good idea. I’ll translate this to Esperanto….another great idea……which is really very useful….Google it…….don’t let anybody say English speakers know everything….that’s a real problem…..we keep on rejecting good ideas unless they start in the English speaking world.
This translation needs some polishing but can be understood.
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=en&tl=eo&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fmatadornetwork.com%2Fchange%2Fnyc-to-create-the-worlds-first-underground-green-space%2F&act=url
And what about the ventilation problem???, it will be a REALLY WARM place!!!
And of course that place will be really insecure at night.
How to learn French??
http://howto-learn-french.blogspot.com/