The High Line: A park on rails

June 15th, 2009 | Posted in: misc.

The historic High Line railroad was built through Manhattan in the 1930′s. It lifted freight traffic 30 feet in the air, removing dangerous trains from the streets of Manhattan’s largest industrial district. The last train ran over it in 1980, after which it remained wasn’t anymore until is was scheduled for demolition in 1999. Here’s how it used to look:

In that year ‘Friends of the High Line’ was formed. A community based non-profit organization with the goal to preserve this historic structure. The project gained the City’s support in 2002. The High Line south of 30th Street was donated to the city in 2005. Respecting the railroad heritage, landscape architects Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, created the plan for the new destination for the High Line as a public park. Construction on the park began in 2006. The first 1,5 mile section, from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street opened this week, and it looks great. It runs through the city as a green ribbon offering visitors a unique experiment. When I’m there I will definitely check it out.

Two more sections are planned, running up to 34th street when completed. This will make it a unique attraction for New York City.

What a couple of persistent residents can achieve… Check out their site and blog here for more info and pictures.