On the High Line in NYC
Back in the 1930s a freight railroad line was built in Manhattan above street level after a public outcry over fatal accidents between trains and traffic. Operations on the line ceased in 1980 and the structure fell into disrepair. Demolition was inevitable until a group called Friends of the High Line petitioned the city to preserve the historic track and reinvent it as a public park.
In June of this year, the first section of the new High Line park opened to the public. I recently visited and was really impressed. It runs from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street on 10th Avenue and visitors can gain access by stairs and/or elevators every few blocks. There is plenty of seating, including lounge chairs that roll on the train tracks, and snacks offered by a rotating group of local vendors. The walkway is lined by fragrant grasses, flowers and trees. It’s a wonderful place to take a walk or to relax and take a break from the hectic city below. The park is a great addition to New York City’s public spaces and I can’t wait until section 2 opens some time next year.
