The New York City High Line In Photos

Can you imagine a park 1.45 miles long and over 20 feet above street level?  That’s what the High Line is; a public park in New York City, built on an elevated rail structure running from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street on Manhattan’s West Side.

Since 2009, the High Line has served as an urban oasis to an area that formerly got little attention from locals and tourists alike. What today is an elevated park was once a freight rail line that operated from 1934 to 1980. It was used to carry meat to the meatpacking district, agricultural goods to the factories and warehouses of the industrial West Side, and mail to the central Post Office. But finally, after many years in disrepair, in 2009 the High Line was reincarnated as an urban greenway.

Today you can walk, play, and relax in this innovative park that has not only caused buzz all around the world but also prompted other cities to revamp their underutilized urban spaces. 

The High Line was designed by the team of James Corner Field Operations (landscape), and Diller Scofidio + Renfro (architecture). Together they created a public space that blends the former train tracks, plant life and landscaping (reminiscent of the wildscape that once grew on the unused tracks), and long narrow “planks” that form a smooth linear park.

The High Line contains viewing platforms that look to the Hudson River, Manhattan’s skyline, and even the streets and avenues of the city; in addition to a sundeck, gathering areas are used for performances, art exhibitions, and educational programs.

What follows are images of the park, some of its best moments, and details.

First and foremost, one of the greatest things the High Line has is the Chelsea Market. It is officially not part of the park, but the entrance to the park is right next to it. Have lunch at the Chelsea Market Passage or at the 10th Avenue Square, or buy snacks to have a picnic at the park. Chelsea Market is right under the High Line on 14th Street.  

A view of the underside of the former rails. Today these big beams hold the park above ground. Also, here you have a peek at the stair that leads up to the park.

One of the things that make the High Line such a unique park is its modern, contemporary design that blends well landscape with architecture.

When the park opened back in 2009, the landscape still needed a bit more time to fully express the design intentions, but as you’ll see below, a few years after, the same space already feels different and more like an urban park.

Following the former tracks, the High Line crosses above, under, and in between buildings.  It almost feels like walking on an elevated sidewalk since you can actually enter to some of these buildings from the park.

The view of the top of the Empire State Building from the park, as well as the iconic water tanks that once topped most lower Manhattan buildings.

A close up of the former rail tracks that are now covered with landscape and greenery.

A close view of the landscape in contrast with the urban scape around the park.

During the day, you can sun tan in one of the rail-mounted benches, or you can just chill out at in the afternoon to watch the sunset or people watch.

The view of 14th Street from the park.

Finally, the sunset.  New York might not be the place on everyone’s list to watch the sunset, but when you’re up on the High Line, watching the sunset becomes a bit more special and beautiful.

Have you’ve been on the High Line?  What did you like or what would you like to see there? 

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.