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New York City’s not exactly known for its green space. Sure, you’ve got Central Park, but that can’t be the only place to get a bit of natural beauty, can it?
Thankfully, no.
One of my favourite spots in all of New York City is a reused railway that’s now a stunning public park called the High Line.
What is the High Line in New York?
Spanning 2.33 kilometres and hovering just above the trendy Meatpacking District, the High Line has come a long way since its origins. Once an elevated freight railway line, it’s been functioning since the 1980s as a modern, urban park.
Although it’s not the kind of park where you would take your dog to throw a ball or bring children to play a game of football, it is a green space nonetheless, and these can be few and far between in New York City.
Want to learn more about the High Line? Take a High Line and Chelsea walking tour.
Why visit the High Line?
During our short time in the Big Apple, we walked along the High Line twice. Once because it was close to our hotel and sounded interesting, and the second because we’d fallen in love on the first visit.
I didn’t know anyone in New York when I got there. On my first day I had a business meeting with someone I was writing for, which brought my total contacts in the city to one.
So it was a total shock when I ran into the one local I’d ever met taking a stroll on the High Line with her family. It’s just that kind of place: where locals go for a bit of respite and tourists go for a different view of the city.
The railway tracks have survived years of disuse and remain intact, with over 350 species of trees, flowers and grasses growing among them; paths amble between or over the tracks, and benches are dotted between trees and shrubs for visitors to sit and people-watch or take in the beautiful views across the city or over the Hudson River.
I love the High Line as an example of innovation and recycling; someone had the creativity to see the potential in something as mundane as an elevated railroad in disrepair, and transformed it to be utilised and appreciated by the public.
This popular green space is not only used as a park though; there are also events like tours, drawing lessons and yoga classes held along the High Line for the public to enjoy.
The success and notoriety of the High Line has been so great that it has been extended further north, running from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District up to 34th Street in Hell’s Kitchen. I can’t wait to walk the full length of it next time I’m in New York!
Note: this post was originally published in 2010 but has been updated in 2016 to make it more relevant and informative.
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Absolutely LOVE the high line. I sat there for ages when I last went, and when it was sunny. Such a nice place in NYC to just sit and chill and also people watch. Thank you for sharing.
Check out my NYC Guide over at http://www.nnyley.com/blog//2016/nyc-guide
http://www.nnyley.com