NYC High Line – A Public Park in the Sky
The High Line, a public park, is built on an unused elevated 1930’s freight line that was destined to be demolished. Fortunately, in 1999, a group of community residents formed Friends of the High Line and fought for the preservation and transformation of the freight line and saved a part of New York City’s history.
§ The High Line is located on Manhattan’s West Side, between 10th and 11th Avenue. The south end starts at Gansevoort Street and continues north to West 30th Street. When it is all completed it will extend to West 34th Street. It is over 1 mile long.
§ The 1st section, between Gansevoort Street and West 20th Street was open to the public during the summer of 2009.
§ The 2nd section, between West 20th Street and West 30th Street was open to the public in June 2011.
§ The High Line park is free and open to the public from 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. daily and is fully wheelchair accessible. No pets, no bikes.
§ Access to the High Line is possible from: Gansevoort, West 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 23rd, 26th, 28th and 30th streets.
§ Elevators are available at: West 14th, 16th, 23rd and 30th Streets.
§ There is a free docent led tour every Tuesday between 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. starting at the 14th Street Passage. No reservation, first come first serve, so arrive at least 15 minutes early to secure a spot. It is a popular tour limited to 20 per docent. The day of our tour there were 2 docents. We arrived 30 minutes early and there were already many people waiting, some brought their dinner to eat while waiting.
Copyright © by Norma Chang
A great post on a little history with lovely photos my friend 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Hello CCU,
Thank you. May be you will have the opportunity to visit one day.
What a fabulous way to use the space, retaining the history and adding more greenery to what looks like a really urban part of the city. Thankyou for showing it.
Hello Liz,
It is really amazing.
Hi Norma. . . . . . .a definite addition to my “bucket list”. Great photos! You and your “kids”
should visit Opus 40 (a 6 acre outdoor stone sculpture) in Saugerties. ~ Jo
Hello Jo,
Told you your “bucklet list” is going to get long.
Will keep Opus 40 in mind next time the kids come to visit.
Wow Norma. This is a great blog and your pix are very good. We loved our walk down there. Whatever time of year you go there is always something different to see. Good job! Phyllis
Hello Phyllis,
Thanks, my daughter took the photos, I cannot take credit. I would love to visit at different time of the year.
Thanks for the lovely memory of our recent trip to New York City; the High Line is certainly a high point for our stay in NYC. And it’s such a nice surprise in the middle of the concrete jungle that it is. We had lunch at The Standard (if you recall, we saw Mitchell from Modern Family there).
Interesting to note that Frank Gehry is Canadian, in fact, from Toronto! He might have even grew up in my hood as his parents were both Polish immigrants (Bloor West Village is mainly Ukrainian and Polish). I love that his style is so recognizable. Have you been to Chicago’s Millenium Park BP Bridge? It’s very cool!
Hello Eva,
You are so welcome. I thought of you while writing the post and the photo of you sitting in front of the bill board with coordinating outfit. Meant to ask if that was planned or just coincidence.
The Fisher Center for the Performing Art at Bard College (north or where I live) was designed by Frank Gehry.
Yes, I have been to Chicago’s Millenium Park BP Bridge.
The coordinating outfit was purely coincidence! Thanks for thinking of me!
I love the meandering organic nature to that bridge. And the bean is awesome! We’re heading down to Illinois (with Porter) at the end of the month but sadly won’t spend any time in the city…we’re off to Wisconsin to our friend’s lake house. Looking forward to the new experience.
Hello Eva,
Toronto to Wisconsin, that’s quite a drive. Have a safe and pleasant trip and a wonderful time with your friends at the lake house. Today, temp in the high 90’s, I wish I was jumping into a lake.
This post is yet another reason why I need to return to NYC. The High Line looks like a great use of “wasted” space in the City. The Friends of the High Line did a wonderful thing.
Hello John,
Oh definitely, you need to return to NYC. Amazed at the visions some people have and how creative some people are.
Norma, this is amazing! I never knew it existed! How fabulous it must be for people in the apartments or offices nearby, to be able to look out over the park from their windows several storeys up! 🙂
Hello Celia,
It is fairly new, words haven’t gotten around yet. People actually designed artwork specifically for the windows facing the park, we did not take any photo, when I return I will.
Interesting garden I would say…
Hello Marina,
I think you would love it.
Oh yes, Norma, I would love it. I love anything garden! 🙂
Waw! That is so cool that it is a park & such a beautiful one too! 🙂 Great pictures by your daughter! thanks for sharing with us!
Hello Sophie,
Thanks, I will let my daughter know. It is very beautiful park.
Hi Norma,
That is so, so interesting and something I’m sure is completely missed by many people visiting the city. I wish ‘The Friends’ the best of luck with it and thank you again for such an informative post!
Hello GD,
Actually for a new park, it is visited by many out-of-towners.
I really like the pebbled concrete — it does look very modern, especially for a bench!
Hello P and P,
You have to see the park first hand to really appreciate it.