So many New York City parks resemble ritualistic throwbacks to the imagined halcyon days of 19th century landscape architecture right down to the O. Henry inspired ironwork, lamps and benches. There are two recent notable exceptions, both created by the combination of Public / Private Conservancies. The Linear Hudson River Park, conceived and created over two decades and the partially completed, somewhat overdesigned and recently opened Diller+Scofidio / James Corner Field Operations designed High-Line Park, which was brought to fruition in a much shorter period by the Friends of the High Line.
The West Side Elevated rail line - now called the High Line-, built in the thirties to replace an earlier, dangerous, at grade line is on its way towards becoming one of New York City’s best recognized ‘aedile amenities’. It provides an 1.5 mile long aerial green corridor, through the part of the West Side least served by public rail transit. Nevertheless it is a good walk. In some sections the plantings resemble the former view of the long vegetated and untended rail tracks as seen from below. The very modern and not at all nostalgic design of the park and its amenities is a welcome breath of fresh air on the West Side of lower Manhattan and nicely complements the neighboring Hudson River Park.
Essentially you walk on a linear green roof elevated above the city but below windows of many adjacent buildings. The construction of the park has also created a corridor of boutique construction as many developers seek to capitalize on views of this unique amenity. An amenity which alas many of them are too cheap to include on their own structures in New York. For the first time many people will get a chance to walk on or view first hand with own eyes how nice a green roof type elevated park really is.
Seeing is believing and might stimulate some more common sense practices, practices that are common place in Chicago and many European Cities: Mayor Daley of Chicago at a recent Drum Major Institute breakfast detailed these to a New York audience at the Harvard Club.
The High-Line Park brings back an atavistic memory of the old West Side Elevated highway, which stood abandoned for decades during the Westway-debate before being demolished. It was routinely used for cycling, jogging, joy riding and dog walking despite being condemned and off-limits. It was made into an impormptu public space which was unlike any other in the city. You felt above the fray.
The High-Line Park has captured that kind of spirit but with inevitably more restrictions on what is and isn’t allowed. The elevation makes you feel a little above and outside it all. Its a pleasant point of view not often experienced by New Yorkers, a kind of ‘Island in the Sky Feeling.’ It offers a common amenity made for both the occasional stroll and a viewing pleasure from a unique perspective.
The High Line is located on Manhattan’s West Side and runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues.
Section 1 of the High Line, which opened to the public on June 9, runs from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street.
High Line Information, Tel +1 212 500 6035
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