HIGH LINE

Description

Essentials about the High Line in brief

The High Line is one of New York City’s newest attractions, but since its opening in 2009, it has quickly become one of the city’s most popular attractions for tourists and locals alike. The High Line is a 2.3-kilometer disused freight train track in western Manhattan that has been transformed into a park. The High Line attracts over five million visitors each year and is certainly one of the most exciting walking paths in all of New York City.

The history of the High Line

Unlike the rest of New York City’s elevated rail network, the High Line was not built for passenger service, but was constructed as a former section of the West Side Freight Line for freight traffic. The freight line was used in the mid-19th century to develop the so-called Meatpacking District, an industrial area in western Manhattan within sight of the Hudson River. However, the traffic of West Side Line freight trains on a road led to numerous accidents involving pedestrians and vehicles, so the railroad company and New York State agreed to replace the line with an elevated railroad track – the High Line. In 1932, the High Line was put into service. Access to industrial operations in West Chelsea and the Meatpacking District was provided by building connections on the 2nd and 3rd floors of factories and warehouses, respectively.

In the 1950s, the demand for rail connections by the factories and meatpacking plants declined because, on the one hand, freight traffic increasingly shifted to the roads due to the major expansion of the highway network and, on the other hand, the industrial plants gradually left the area. In the 1960s, the southern section of the High Line between Gansevoort Street and Clarkson Street was demolished. The last train on the High Line ran in fall 1980.

In the 1990s, resident entrepreneurs wanted to demolish the High Line to gain building space. A demolition permit had already been issued by the city council when the Friends of the High Line initiative was founded by residents in 1999 to preserve the structure. After the demolition was averted, the initiative proposed the creation of a public park on the elevated route as a subsequent use. The Coulée verte René-Dumont hiking trail, which was also built on a former railroad track in Paris in the early 1990s, served as a model. This concept found many supporters among local residents, architects, urban and landscape planners, and artists. In 2004, the city of New York agreed to build a park for $50 million.

The construction of the High Line

The project consisted of three construction phases, and ground was broken in 2006. For the design of the park, mainly plant species were chosen that had previously taken possession of the abandoned railroad facility as ruderal vegetation. The first section of the High Line from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street was opened to the public in June 2009. Wallpaper magazine named the new park “Life Enhancer of the Year”.

Work on the second section (from 20th to 30th Street) began immediately afterwards. The cost of over $150 million was raised largely from donations. The second section was dedicated in June 2011. The third section, from 30th to 34th Street, was finally completed between September 2010 and September 2014.

The surroundings of the High Line

Since its transformation into a park, the area on both sides of the High Line alignment has become a preferred location for businesses, especially in the creative industries. Various buildings on both sides have been or are being restored and marketed as high-quality (residential) space in a preferred location.

Last but not least, it should be mentioned that the High Line is not only an interesting walk through the greenery, but also offers a diverse program of events. Botanical and architectural tours, parties, workshops, meditation, Tai Chi, stargazing, art performances literature lectures – all this and much more is organized on the High Line.