New York City's High Line

Once upon a time, freight traffic and trains ran across the top of the city. It was the High Line, built in the 1930s, as part of a massive public-private infrastructure project. But with time interstate trucking began to eclipse train traffic ceased, the High Line deteriorated and demolition threatened.

Seeing the possibilities, Friends of the High Line worked with the City of New York to try to save and repurpose High Line. The project gained the City's support in 2002, and a portion of the High Line, south of 30th Street. was donated to the City in 2005.

Today, High Line is becoming one of the more exciting developments in the city, creating a vibrant new public space. The first section, from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street has opened.

When all sections are complete, the High Line will be a mile-and-a-half-long elevated park, running through what had been industrial sections of the city including the Meatpacking District, and Clinton/Hell's Kitchen. So far, High Line is meandering concrete pathways lined with plantings, and offering fixed and movable seating, and lighting.

Public art installations and public events are a large part of High Line. Spencer Finch with The River That Flows Both Ways, is the first public art program and will run through June 2010. Presented on the occasion of the opening of the High Line as a City park in June 2009. Where freight once traveled Finch transforms an existing grid of window frames into a complex matrix of 700 individually crafted panes of glass representing the tidal cycle of the Hudson River over a period of 700 minutes on a single day. The installation is placed in a semi-enclosed tunnel atop the line, between 15th and 16th Streets, viewable from both the street and up on the Chelsea Market section of the High Line.

Visitors can access the park from street level entrances located every two to three blocks. Some entrances include elevators, and all have stairs. For park information, please call the High Line Information Line: (212) 500-6035 See the design of High Line at: TheHighLine.org