Freelance Writing Jobs | Today's Articles | Sign In

New York's First Elevated Park Opening Soon

Background and Latest Developments in High Line Project

Mar 4, 2009 Steve Mirsky

What was once an elevated rail viaduct snaking high above Manhattan is slowly being converted into High Line Park connecting people with New York City's streets.

Just a few short years ago, irate property owners in New York City's Chelsea District marched to City Hall trundling a suitcase filled with concrete chunks that had fallen from an abandoned rail viaduct. A pedestrian was nearly killed and the group demanded that City officials tear down a 1.45 mile portion of this monstrosity. Today, first phase reconstruction is well underway converting this industrial era relic into an elevated 6.7 acre linear park situated in a neighborhood with the lowest concentration of open space in Manhattan.

History of Highline Park

Before the viaduct was built in 1934, 50 street-level freight trains per day sped along 10th Avenue, causing so many pedestrian fatalities that it became known as Death Avenue. Horse-mounted guardians dubbed “The 10th Ave. Cowboys” brandished lanterns fending off trains and signaled to pedestrians for safe crossing. After years of public outcry, the City of New York began construction on a project whose total cost exceeded $2 billion in today's dollars. Private right-of-way agreements were established through 350 properties demolishing 640 homes, two schools, and one church. Originally 13 miles long, the High Line eliminated 105 street-level railroad crossings and was designed to carry freight cars right inside factories and warehouses. The rise of interstate trucking in the 1950s signaled its decline, portions were torn down in the 1960s, and the last train rolled through with a load of frozen turkeys in 1980. Meanwhile, irises, grape hyacinth, ailanthus trees, and many grasses took root on the rail deck creating a new natural habitat high above the city streets. A group of concerned citizens called the Friends of the High Line began advocating for preservation and reuse of the viaduct as a public open space in 1999.

What's Happening Now

Today, Mayor Michael Bloomberg considers this project a centerpiece in the West Side's plan of development. High profile support from media magnate Barry Diller, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, and actors Kevin Bacon and Ed Norton has spurred a mixture of public and private support totaling $130 million. Norton, who used to live in an apartment next to the High Line, would often sneak onto the derelict structure out of fascination. The mere prospect of the High Line's success, modeled after Promenade Plantée, a similar conversion project completed in Paris France, has already spurred 27 new developments in the neighborhood. The first phase is scheduled to open to the public sometime this spring. For the latest project updates, check out Friends of the High Line blog.

The copyright of the article New York's First Elevated Park Opening Soon in NE U.S. Travel is owned by Steve Mirsky. Permission to republish New York's First Elevated Park Opening Soon in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.