New York City’s newest public park sits 30 feet above Manhattan’s Lower West Side and atop a 1930’s era elevated rail freight line. Located in Chelsea, High Line Park is the first public park of its kind in the United States, inspired in part by the Promenade Plantée also known as the Coulée Verte, a 4.5 km-long elevated park in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, France. The Promenade Plantée was similarly constructed on an abandoned 19th-century railway viaduct, which connected the Bastille area to the eastern suburbs of Paris.
For a long time the Promenade Plantée was the only elevated park in the world, but New York never likes to be outdone. Ten years of innovative urban planning and garden design culminated last month in the opening of the first half-mile section of the park. The abandoned rail line has been transformed into an elevated planted pedestrian walkway for the public to experience a first-hand example of how urban renewal and recycling can work hand in hand with historical preservation. The first section of the park runs from West Village‘s Gansevoort Street, in the Meatpacking District, to West 20th Street in Chelsea, between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues, and is open from 7am to 11pm daily (please visit the official website as the hours may change). Section 2 from 20th Street to 30th Street has opened open on June 8th, 2011. The total cost of completing both sections is around 152 million dollars, and approval for a third section is still in the works.
There are tons of local events planned all year long including walking tours by architectural historians, art gallery tours, horticultural lectures, storytelling for the kids, parades, festivals and benefits. You can find information on the project and all the great events planned in the area or just make a donation to a great cause at http://www.thehighline.org.
Consider accommodations in Chelsea or apartments in West Village and Greenwich Village in order stay close to the park.
This 2 Bedroom vacation rental in Chelsea (NY- 9895) is located just steps away from the 20th street entrance to Highline Park!
This unique 1 Bedroom accommodation in the West Village (NY-7565) has country furnishings, giving it a log-cabin feel.
Highline Park has something for everyone. There are water features for the kids to splash around in, sundecks and lounge chairs for the weary New Yorker who just needs a rest from the rat race, and wildflower gardens surrounded by hundreds of species of plants for the nature enthusiast as well as the resident butterflies and birds to get lost in. You can take in panoramic views of the Hudson River while you stroll along, peeking through the glass flooring, as taxis race by beneath your feet. Only in New York, folks!
What do you think of New York City’s newest park? Share your comments below.
That is so cool!! I wa not aware of this park “new version”. High Line Park is definitely the new generation of greenpatch in the city of Skyscrapers!!!!!
This park looks awesome! I’m gonna check it out.
Thank you very much for this information. I so trill and can’t wait to experience this park. I’ve anticipated for the past four summers that I visited this City when I’ll be able to witness this park.
The city did a wonderful job in designing this park, and it is in a great spot of New York City, too. Looking forward to the completion.
I visited this park this past Sunday. It was awesome! It was spectacular! It was fanastic! There was a throng of people strolling taking in the veiw, while others was just sitting back enjoying. If I didn’t happened on this nyhabitat site I would have know what was happening.
This is such a great way to use this space! Taking something old and not useful and transforaming it into this great park was one fantastic idea.
Chelsea is one of my favorite areas of Manahttan. I am glad that is has some new green space. Highline Park is so beautiful.
Highline Park, it sounds so regal!
The first thing a did after I left my luggage at the coozy apartment I rent from you guys was to head over to this Highline Park and spent the whole evening relaxing taking it all in. I in love with it.
I took my Irish friend who is visiting New York for the very first time for a stroll and breakfast up and on Highline Park yesterday morning. We felt like a couple of world class travelers experiencing a world class park in New York City.
For a great sun set, pay a visit to Highline Park. You can take your bread and cheese up there. There even an area where you can have your red wine. This city is awsome men!