The High Line is an elevated unbending park, greenway, and rail trail on the west side of Manhattan in New York City. It is 1.45 miles long and was created on a former New York Central Railroad. If you take a walk along New York’s High Line, it will have you falling for it big time. On its route, it has imaginative plants, reflective spaces, and interesting artwork. The variety of colors of the leaves will leave you amazed as it provides a contrast to the monochrome office buildings. Today, we will go deeper into the High Line and discover all its features.
History of High Line
The High Line might be a metropolitan oasis today, but this wasn’t always the case. It was originally called the West Side Elevated Line and was built at the start of the 20th century. To support the freight rail line that would be running 30ft above the street level, the viaduct was designed. In 1934, the first trains ran on elevated rail tracks which carried meat, produce, and some factory goods. In 1980, the High Line was closed as a train that carried frozen turkeys made its final journey.
Joshua David and Robert Hammond decided to intervene and formed a group called Friends of the High Line which was to preserve and start the re-use of the structure. The High Line starts at Gansevoort Street and goes along to West 20th Street, crossing Tenth Avenue on its route. In 2011, the second section was extended by ten blocks, which would be a mile to West 30th Street. In 2019, the final section of the rail structure was opened at 30th Avenue and 10th Avenue.
Accessing the Park
The address for the High Line is 820 Washington ST, New York, NY 10014. Along the way, there are 11 places to join the park if you don’t feel like walking the whole way. Many of the access points have stairs up to the park and there is also a ramp at the High Line entrance on 30th Street Hudson Yards. Elevators are available at
- Gansevoort Street and Washington Street
- 14th Street
- 23rd Street
- 30th Street Southwest
- 31st Street and Dyer Avenue for the High Line – Moynihan Connector
It will take you about 30 minutes to walk around the 1.45-mile High Line if you do not stop to take photos or look at the views. It is completely free to visit the High Line and it is open every day from 7 am to 10 pm during the summer and until 8 pm in the winter.
Features
The High Line is scattered with many unique features such as the Gansevoort Woodland, Sun Decks, Washington Grasslands and Water Features, Chelsea Grasslands, and a wildflower field. One of the wider areas of the park is the Sun Deck which is lined up with wooden day beds that run along the track like rolling freight. You will find a semi-enclosed section when you walk between 14th and 15th Street that has art videos and historic works shown on an outdoor video screen.
At the Chelsea Market Passage between April and October, food vendors sell their products in an open-air food court. This is the former location of the National Biscuit Company factory between 15th and 16th Street. If you are a person who enjoys heights, head for the 10th Avenue overlook at 17th Street. There is also a wheelchair-accessible amphitheater that is the perfect place for watching people on the pavement below. Here are some of the other features of the High Line.
Plants – David and Hammond were amazed to find 1.5 miles of meadow in Midtown Manhattan which has now been reflected in the plants that have reeds, tall grasses, and wildflowers. The Donald Pels and Wendy Keys Gansevoort Woodland is near the southern end of the High Line at Gansevoort Street. It has raised steel planters that help create a tiered decorative. The Chelsea Grasslands have been planted with some wild grasses and self-seeding plants. You will find sparrows filling the garden too as it is a great resting place for them. On the walk between 30th Street and 34th Street, you will find landscapes of self-seeding plants. You can even grab pictures here of the Hudson River and stunning 360-degree views of the city.
Art – You will find that public art is very notable all along the High Line. It will range from graffiti on walls to art installations by local and international artists that keep changing with the seasons. In many areas, you will still be able to recognize the original Art Deco steel railings between the planting. The Friends of the High Line exhibit world-class art projects to bring modern art to the community.
Mural – You will be able to find a mural by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kubra who has changed the original black and white image of a sailor kissing a nurse image into a rainbow color. It will be very easy to spot and can be seen from the High Line at West 25th Street at 10th Avenue.
High Line at the Rail Yards – It opened in 2014 between 30th and 34th Streets and 10th and 12th Avenues. Most of the designs here will resemble the industrial history of the structure along with stretches of raised railroad tracks that remain in the same condition as they were found in.
Stay
You can stay at the 4-star Novotel Times Square which offers a fabulous view of Times Square. Also, there is a bar, restaurant, and terrace that all have breathtaking views of Times Square along with the city lights and amazing food and service as well. Its modern, sleek style just screams out New York and is located in a prime spot. Central Park and Times Square both are just a short walk away and the Metro is also nearby to explore further. It is a hotel which we would recommend staying in on your visit to New York City.
Food
You can find amazing food near the High Line and Chelsea for not a lot of money. One great option for getting food is Chelsea Market on 9th Avenue between 15th and 16th Streets. Other food options available are
Artichoke Basille Pizza – It is located at 114 10th Avenue between 17th and 18th Streets. They make some of the best pizzas in all of New York City. They also have other locations in Greenwich Village and East Village. You can grab a slice of their rich, creamy artichoke-style pizza or the traditional red sauce Margherita slice.
Empire Diner – It is situated at 210 10th Avenue at 21st Street. This is a local favorite which is housed in a historic train dining car that serves American diner classics.
Brooklyn Bagel & Co. – At 286 8th Avenue between 24th and 25th Streets, you will feel no need to leave Manhattan to grab a great Brooklyn bagel. Sandwich and salads are also available at this spot.
As you might have noticed, the High Line is more than just a park. It is famously known for being a blend of public spaces where you can meet up with your friends or family to enjoy a different view of New York City. You can also check out its variety of food, art, and various live performances.
