The High Line - New York City

New York City is made up of numerous high rises, subways and people. It would be an understatement to say that New York City, with a population of 1,585,873 within only 22.96 square miles, is a crowded place to live. When you have 69,464 neighbors within a square mile, you learn to use every inch of space you have. The City of New York City has learned this as well and a prime example of this is the High Line. 

Originally built in the 1930's, it raised freight traffic 30 feet off the ground removing dangerous trains from pedestrian paths. The line was closed in the 1980's and sat untouched for many years. Friends of the High Line, a community-based non-profit group, formed in 1999 when the historic structure was under threat of demolition. Friends of the High Line works in partnership with the City of New York to preserve and maintain the structure as an elevated public park. 

The project was approved in 2002 and construction for the rehabilitation of the line began in 2006 and the final stretch of the project opened in spring of 2011. The project is a brilliant example of rehabilitation and attention to detail. When walking down the stretch, layers of the sidewalk seamlessly merge into the landscape, benches grown out of the ground and original train tracks guide the wheels of the lounges.

Along side the High Line, new residential buildings have been erected along side hundred year old buildings, creating an architecturally intriguing backdrop for your journey down the path.  The mixture of the old and new is a constant reminder as you wind down this landscaped trail elevated above all the commotion that everything in this city is used carefully.

Before Construction Began (image
from www.highline.org)

Original Design of the High Line by 
James Corner Field Operations, 
Diller Scofidio + Renfro and 
Piet Oudolf

For more information about the High Line please check out www.thehighline.org.