The or Promenade plantée René-Dumont is a elevated linear park built on top of obsolete railway infrastructure in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, France. It was inaugurated in 1993.

Etymology

Promenade plantée means "planted walkway". Coulée verte traslates to "green corridor". The park memorializes René Dumont, a French engineer and environmentalist.

Description

left|thumb|A view of the in summer

left|thumb|Another view of the Coulée verte.

This in Paris is an extensive green belt that follows the old railway line. Beginning just east of the with the elevated , it follows a path eastward that ends at a spiral staircase leading to the beltway. At its west end near the Bastille, the parkway rises above the surrounding area and forms the , over a line of shops featuring the work of specialized craftsmen. The shops are located in the arches of the former elevated railway viaduct, with the parkway being supported atop the viaduct. This portion of the parkway runs parallel to the . The parkway crosses the near the and descends to street level. At that point, it becomes a grassy mall and then follows the old railway direction below street level towards the east, passing through several tunnels. As it reaches the , it splits, with one portion continuing to the beltway, and the other terminating in the along the former path of a branch line that once linked to the railway. The western portion of the parkway may be accessed via stairways and elevators leading up to the elevated viaduct. This portion is reserved for pedestrians. The eastern portion of the parkway is accessible via ramps and stairways and is open to both pedestrians and cyclists. The west end can be reached from Bastille by walking south on , then left on . The staircase entrance is immediately on the left where enters . It ceased operation on December 14, 1969; part of the line beyond Vincennes was integrated into Line A of the RER, while the Paris-Vincennes section was completely abandoned. The arcades of the Viaduc des Arts were renovated in 1989 by architect Patrick Berger, as was the new .

Paris' promenade was the first project in the world to repurpose elevated old railway lines into urban gardens. The second phase was completed in 2011, bringing the total length of the High Line to 1.6 kilometres (1 mi); the third phase opened in September 2014, completing the park. In 2015 Chicago opened the nearly Bloomingdale Trail, which runs through several city neighborhoods and allows bicycles.

The Promenade Plantée appears in the film Before Sunset, directed by Richard Linklater in 2004 with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. It is also mentioned in the science fiction novel Olympos, by Dan Simmons.

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File:Coulée verte René-Dumont, 139 Avenue Daumesnil, 75012 Paris, France 2016.jpg|View onto Avenue Daumesnil

File:Paris - Coulée verte René-Dumont12.jpg|A reflecting pool on the Coulée verte

File:Promenade plantée, Paris August 2009 (12).jpg|Part of the Jardin de Reuilly, as seen from a pedestrian bridge on the Coulée verte

File:Paris - Coulee verte2.jpg|A view of the eastern section of the Coulée verte

File:Coulée Verte René-Dumont @ Paris (28647410603).jpg|One of the Coulée verte's pedestrian bridges

File:Jardin de Reuilly Entrance on Avenue Daumesnil 1.jpg|Entrance to the Jardin de Reuilly on Avenue Daumesnil

File:Artificial rocks in one of the Coulee vert’s tunnels.jpg|Artificial rocks in one of the Coulée verte’s tunnels

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See also

  • List of parks and gardens in Paris
  • Rotterdam Hofplein railway station, similar former railway in Rotterdam
  • High Line, elevated park in Manhattan, New York City
  • Bloomingdale Trail, similar elevated park in Chicago
  • Lowline, planned underground park in Manhattan, New York City
  • Harsimus Stem Embankment, planned rail trail in Jersey City, New Jersey
  • Maidashi ryokuchi, a park in Fukuoka, Japan
  • Queensway, planned rail trail in Queens, New York City
  • Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC)
  • Reading Viaduct, planned rail trail in Philadelphia
  • Greenway, London
  • The Atlanta Beltline, Atlanta, Georgia
  • The Arbutus Greenway in Vancouver, British Columbia

References

  • Promenade Plantée's unofficial website
  • Viaduc des Arts
  • Jardin de Reuilly, a park crossed by the Promenade Plantée