"Transforming the High Line into a unique and accessible elevated park will be one of the most important things we will do for future generations in New York City," says Amanda M. Burden, chair of the New York City Planning Commission, which along with advocacy group the Friends of the High Line, selected the finalists. "The team we choose must be of a caliber that matches that important task."

Team leaders and principals include from Team 1: Field Operations, landscape architects; Diller, Scofidio + Renfro, architects; Olafur Eliasson, artist; Piet Oudolf, horticulture; Halie Light & L'Observatoire International, lighting; and from Team 2: Zaha Hadid Architects, architects; Balmori Associates, landscape architects; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP (Marilyn Jordan Taylor), architects; studio MDA (Markus Dochantschi), architects. Team 3 members are from: Steven Holl Architects, architects; Hargreaves Associates, landscape design; HNTB, technical design, while Team 4 members are: TerraGRAM: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, landscape architects; DIRT Studio (Julie Bargmann), industrial site design; Beyer Blinder Belle (Neil Kittredge), urban design.

The finalists must now submit responses to the second stage of the RFP in early July. Those responses will include visions for the entire project that will address access, interaction with neighboring buildings, and treatment of the structure's underside and its relation to the street.