What was once home to trains running up and down the elevated track on the west side until the 1960s is now a place for pedestrians to roam around and enjoy the views of the city.
The High Line above 19th street. Photo by: Tim Ahmed
The High Line opened a mile to pedestrians in 2009, and expects to complete the entire 1.45 mile by 2014.
According to the High Line’s official website, the original railway was first built on street level in 1847. This was not safe in Manhattan during the early era of the automobile. Collisions between freight trains and automobiles were frequent in the West Side. The city hired men on horses to direct traffic.
In 1929, the city and the New York Central Railroad decided to elevate the entire railway on the west side, making automobile traffic more convenient and safer.
Relaxing on the elevated public space on the high line. Photo by: Tim Ahmed
Thirty years after the project, the southern part of the railway was demolished due to the increase of interstate trucking. Freight trains were no longer used in Manhattan. The track from Gansevoort Street to 30th Street was abandoned. In 1999, residents in the neighborhood advocated for the transformation of the High Line into a pedestrian walkway. Ten years later, the high line was finally open to the public.
The Empire State Building fills the skyline from the west. Photo by: Tim Ahmed
Some compare the walkway to Paris’ Promenade Plantée, coined as the first elevated park in world. The High Line is a modern approach to the classical and elegant Promenade. This is a great place for visitors and even residents of the city. Pedestrians are able to view the city from a different perspective. During the winter season, the high line is bare without their colorful flora, but the sightseeing is still breathtaking. If you ever wondered what it felt like to walk on an elevated train track, this is your chance. Only this time, you can admire the skyline and walk safely.
