The High Line

The High Line is a unique elevated linear park in New York City, built on a former New York Central Railroad spur on Manhattan's West Side. Stretching for 1.45 miles (2.33 km) from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, the park offers visitors an unparalleled urban green space experience.

Originally constructed in the 1930s to lift dangerous freight traffic off Manhattan's streets, the High Line ceased operations in 1980 and fell into disrepair. In the late 1990s, local residents formed the Friends of the High Line to advocate for its preservation and reuse as a public space. Their efforts succeeded, and the first section of the park opened to the public in 2009.

The High Line's design, a collaboration between James Corner Field Operations, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Piet Oudolf, incorporates many elements of the structure's industrial past. The park features naturalized plantings inspired by the landscape that grew on the abandoned rail line, interspersed with remnants of the original tracks. The planting design includes over 500 species of perennials, grasses, shrubs, and trees, chosen for their hardiness, sustainability, and seasonal variation.

As visitors stroll along the elevated pathway, they can enjoy a variety of experiences, from intimate garden alcoves to open gathering spaces with spectacular views of the city and the Hudson River. The park also serves as a venue for public programs, including art installations, performances, and educational events.

The High Line has become not only a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike but also a model for urban renewal and adaptive reuse projects worldwide. It has spurred significant economic development in the surrounding neighborhoods and demonstrates how innovative urban planning can transform neglected infrastructure into vibrant public spaces.