The NYC High Line

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When my sister-in-law visited New York City from Arizona recently, to attend a Christening, we asked her what she would like to do with my husband and me one afternoon while she was free.  She asked to visit the High Line--the elevated railway viaduct, originally built in 1934 to carry freight trains, which is now entirely owned by the City of New York and which has been transformed into a one-of-a-kind space open to the public as an elevated park.  I blogged about the High Line once before, soon after it opened, which you can see on this post.

The first thing I noticed as we approached a High Line entrance, on Gansevoort Street, in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan, was how mature the trees and foliage have become since my last visit. Access points to visit the High Line, by stairs and some with elevators, are located every two to three blocks.

In 1999, neighborhood residents Robert Hammond and Joshua David created the community group called "Friends of the High Line" to advocate for the idea of this aerial walkway. The first section of the High Line opened on June 9, 2009.  It runs from Gansevoort Street to West 20th Street. The second section, which runs between West 20th and West 30th Streets, opened on June 8, 2011.  Now Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced that the City of New York has acquired the title to the third and final section of the High Line from CSX Transportation, Inc. The transfer of ownership brings the city one step closer to starting construction later this year that will complete the High Line as envisioned.

The old railway ties can still be seen in sections next to the walkways. The integrated landscape, designed by landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, with architects  Diller Scofidio and Renfro, and planting designer Piet Oudolf, combines meandering concrete pathways with naturalistic plantings.

Fixed and movable seating, lighting, and special features are also included in the park which is open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily.

The High Line was enjoyed by many on our visit.

There was even wonderful cello music being played in one section by an enterprising musician.

There are also views of the Hudson River along the High Line.

My husband and his sister stopped on our walk-along to pose for a photo.

 I enjoyed the elevated views of the city and taking photos of the landmarks I saw along the way.

It was fun to try to frame the Empire State Building within a tower on a building.....

.....did I do a good job?

The entire High Line walkway is diverse in its design and has unexpected twists and turns that make you desire to continue walking to see more of it.

We enjoyed listening awhile to a Bluegrass duo singing in one section.

One can also enjoy some of the step-like seating in a few areas of the High Line, which allows you to observe the hustle and bustle of New York City through the glass as if you were seated in a theater.

Other areas had elevated seats that allow you to observe the crowds walking by.

There is also an element of humor along the High Line, and you can see from the mural on the side of a building and also...

......this collage of some of the other humorous sights we saw along the way.  Many surrounding building windows that were at the same height as the High Line walkway had cutouts in them of people waving.  Doesn't the "person" in the lower right window look real?  One rooftop (center bottom photo) had a "High Line Zoo" of cardboard animals placed on it for all to see, and the billboard ad for a parking lot in the upper left corner of this collage made us smile.

This sculpture seems to mimic the graffiti behind it.

The High Line's planting design is inspired by the self-seeded landscape that grew on the out-of-use elevated rail tracks during the 25 years after trains stopped running. The species of perennials, grasses, shrubs, and trees were chosen for their hardiness, sustainability, and textural and color variation, with a focus on native species.

Many of the species that originally grew on the High Line's rail bed are incorporated into the park's landscape

Walking the High Line is a unique experience and a way to view the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City.  If you visit NYC put it on your list of free places to visit, and I don't think you'll be disappointed!

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A Chelsea Morning and a Squirrel Afternoon

It has been a cool, foggy, rain filled week here in New York City, definitely more like April weather than May. I had a routine doctor visit this week and went over to his new office in the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan, on 7th Avenue.  7th Avenue is also known as "Fashion Avenue" due to its role as a center of the garment and fashion industry and the famed fashion designers who established New York as a world fashion capital.   I passed the Fashion Institute of Technology, at 7th Avenue and 27th Street, which is part of the State University of New York.  It is New York City’s internationally recognized college for design, fashion, art, communications, and business. The Museum at FIT is open to the public and is one of a select group of specialized fashion museums in the world.

Next, I passed the Chelsea Television Studios at 221 West 26th Street (between Seventh and Eighth  Avenues) where the Martha Stewart show is taped.  It can be hard to get tickets to see her show because of the large demand, but I was fortunate to be able to attend a taping a few years ago with a couple of friends. We were there for the segment on Lady M Cake Boutique which featured the Mille Crepes as their signature cake.  It is made of no less than twenty paper-thin handmade crepes layered with ethereal light pastry cream, and then the top is caramelized.  Each audience member was served a slice, and I remember it just melted in my mouth with goodness!  Martha was very nice and stayed after taping to answer audience questions.

I then passed The City Quilter shop at 133 West 25th Street.  This fun shop has over 4,000 patterns of fabric but it specializes in New York City prints!  My daughter and her fiance are wearing reversible aprons that a friend made as part of a bridal shower gift from fabric she bought at The City Quilter. Don't they look cute?

After my doctor visit, I walked east towards the Gramercy/Flatiron neighborhood and Madison Square Park.  I've shown this beautiful little park on my blog many times before, and I never tire of visiting it. One side has a wonderful view of the iconic Flatiron building, and the other side shows the Empire State building in the distance.

All the rain we've been having has made the park grass very thick and green, and some of the park's peripheral border hydrangea bushes were in bloom, along with giant allium plants.

Two years ago I took these photos of the pink hydrangeas that dominate the park, which you can read more about in this post. They have not yet bloomed at this time.

On this park visit, I headed over to the famous Shake Shack.  I had not eaten this morning, because I had a blood test at the doctor, and by 11:30 AM I was famished. Luckily, I arrived before the large midday lunch crowd had formed a long line.

The Shake Shack opened its doors in 2004 and quickly became a neighborhood favorite for locals and tourists alike. Their Shake burger, hot dog and frozen custard have been voted among the best in the city. They are open daily from 11AM till 11PM.  Click on the webcam on their web site to see the current activity around their location.

I had the yummy single Shack Burger and French Fries along with a bottle of water. Everything was so good!  I know I'll never be a skinny fashion model on Fashion Avenue, so I didn't worry about this indulgent brunch.

As I ate a little bird sat across from me as if to keep me company.

Then this furry fellow came down from the tree, right behind the bird, and stared right at me. Obviously, the smell of food was alerting all the park's wildlife that lunch was being served!

Soon birds and squirrels began arriving in droves, looking for dropped or discarded crumbs under the tables.

This squirrel found a piece of French fry and sat at the table next to me to eat it.

He liked his lunch as much as I did!

 (One caveat: I would never advocate throwing human food to wild animals, as I know it isn't good for them and can harm them.  Plus, it can also make them quite aggressive and lose their fear of humans which is not a good thing.)

As I left the park I saw another squirrel sitting on the back of a park bench. He was covered with bits of paper, as he obviously had just emerged from a trash can.

In his hands was a nice cheesy hamburger wrapper which he was thoroughly enjoying! 

 I think if I had to be a squirrel in New York City, I'd like to have my home in a tree in Madison Square Park next to the Shake Shack -- wouldn't you?

The High Line Park, New York City

What should be done to abandoned 1930s elevated freight train tracks in a former industrial area on the West side of Manhattan? Turn it into a public park modeled after Paris' Promenade Plantée and name it the High Line! In 1999, neighborhood residents Robert Hammond and Joshua David created the community group called "Friends of the High Line" to advocate for the idea. The group was instrumental in the promotion, fundraising, and for future preservation of the project. (all photos will enlarge when clicked on)

The High Line is property of the City of New York and is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks & Recreation. It is located on Manhattan's West Side and will eventually run from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues. Section 1 of the High Line, which opened to the public on June 9, 2009, runs from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street. When all sections are complete, the High Line will be a mile-and-a-half-long elevated park, running through the West Side neighborhoods of the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea, and Clinton/Hell's Kitchen.

It features an integrated landscape, designed by landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofifio and Renfro, and combines meandering concrete pathways with naturalistic plantings.

Fixed and movable seating, lighting, and special features are also included in the park which is open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily.

Access points from street level, by stairs and some with elevators, are located every two to three blocks. The large building above is The Standard, a new hotel that bridges the High Line.

Some views from the High Line of what was once the Meat Packing District of Manhattan. Many of the former warehouses and slaughterhouses were converted into chic boutiques and restaurants.

There are approximately 210 species of perennials, grasses, shrubs, and trees on the complete section of the High Line. They were chosen for their hardiness and diversity of bloom time. Many of the species that originally grew on the High Line's rail bed are incorporated into the park landscape to retain a natural effect.

A pretty view of the Hudson River and a section of New Jersey from the High Line.

An artist was doing a plein-air painting of a view of the High Line.

Another view of the Hudson River and some visitors enjoying their lunches in the shade under the walk-through of the Chelsea Market building. Many stores inside the Chelsea Market are now selling packaged picnic lunches, especially for the High Line visitors.

The railroad tracks are very visible in the area that passes through the Chelsea Market.

Looking down a section of the elevated tracks called the Northern Spur that is not part of the walkway. You can see the variety of natural plantings that look very much like those that covered the tracks when they were left unused for over 25 years.

A view of the top Empire State Building behind a Chelsea neighborhood building.

A view of the Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex which is a 28-acre waterfront sports village located between 17th and 23rd Streets along Manhattan's Hudson River. Situated on Piers 59, 60, 61, and 62 and in the head house that connects them, the Complex features the following sports and entertainment venues such as golf, a sky rink, gymnastics, soccer, basketball, baseball, dance, rock climbing, martial arts, hockey, figure skating, plus a health club and spa.

A unique residential building with both Hudson River and High Line views!

A close-up of the top of the Empire state building. Wave to the people on the observation deck!

Another perspective with more views of the different types of housing in the area.

The walkway fades into a rail tie design in some areas with different varieties of grass and flowers growing in the spaces between. The original art Deco style railing in this area is about waist high.

A movie is being filmed nearby, as this street was full of trailers used to house actors and crew, and equipment.

Looking down at Tenth Avenue

This section of the High Line has amphitheater-type rows of bench seating.

The seats drop down below the deck and look through a jumbo glass window right up the middle of Tenth Avenue.

Another view of people walking on the High Line and more shots of the fauna and flora.

Since opening in June 2009, crowds have been dense as many New Yorkers and tourists are curious to see the new park and enjoy the views. The current rules for the High Line are no dog walking, no bicycles, no jogging, no skates or skateboards, and no scooters or drinking of alcohol, which all will help to keep it purely pedestrian and safe. After years of seeing this railway from below, it was a novelty to view it from above, and I found it a pleasant place to stroll and people-watch as well as enjoy the scenery.

Much of the High Line is still an active construction site. While Section 1 of the High Line is open to the public, Section 2, between 20th Street to 30th Street, is currently under construction. Section 2 is projected to open in 2010. The park will eventually extend from Gansevoort Street north to 30th Street where the elevated tracks turn west around the Hudson Yards development project to the Javits Convention Center on 34th Street.

It is proving to be a popular new attraction in the area and definitely worth a visit!

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