The transformation of an old railway into a breath-taking Tourist Attraction.
New York is a breath-taking city steeped in culture. From the super-rich Upper East Side all the way down to Harlem, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Most tourists prefer a hotel, as it forces them to be outside all day taking everything in, however for the smarter few booking apartments in New York, they can see their choice tourist attractions, and be able to do so in a relaxed environment in a home away from home. Not only is this a good way to cut costs, but it allows you to get the feel of being a local. Visiting local grocery stores for your food, and seeing what the New York ‘Locals’ see in their day to day.
When the High Line opened in 1934, it was one of the most important transport links in New York, supplying a commerce route to Manhattan. Trains thundered up and down the track for fifty years until the track was closed in the 1980, and there it sat, disused and forgotten until 1999, when two locals, Joshua David and Robert Hammond, had a bright idea.
Friends of the High Line was born, although it wouldn’t be until 2004 that landscape architect James Corner was brought on board, alongside planting designers Diller Scofidio and Renfro and Piet Oudolf. Restoration began in 2006, and five years of toil followed until part of the railway was opened to the public in 2011. By 2014 the restoration was complete, and the people of New York could enjoy a green space in the middle of the city, which had once been a major industrial icon.
The High Line nowadays does not look like an old railway as such – there are places where old bits of track have been left in place as a reminder of what used to happen here, but the linear park is peaceful and quiet, despite being in New York. Many of the plants used in the park are different varieties of perennial, which spring up naturally between the tracks of railways, adding an authentic feel to the park. It has been designed in such a way that the plants hold as much water as possible, making the High Line sustainable as well as beautiful.
There are plenty of cafés and restaurants along the High Line – the Chelsea Market Passage is a place where you can find good food and also view exhibits by local artists. Different parts of the park have different feels and vibes, with authentic lines of track and railway beams to sit on in some areas, whereas other parts have been converted into lawns that are perfect for sitting with a picnic.
But the High Line is more than just a park, it’s now a location for community events. From April to October, you can go and study the stars with the Amateur Astronomers Association, and there are often poetry events where you can walk along and enjoy a variety of performances. Maryanne Stubbs, a local wildlife expert, gives guided tours to visitors, educating them about the migratory birds and pollinating insects that inhabit the High Line; as well as this, the park often hosts comedy gigs and dance shows, so there’s always something going on.
As for the future of the High Line, who knows? New buildings are flying up all over New York, and whether the habitat that the railway provides will be endangered is as yet unknown. But for now it is a tribute to the past, and an area of calm in one of the busiest cities in the world.