Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!
The New York City High Line is a 1.5 mile Rail-Trail on the west side of Manhattan. In 1999, neighborhood residents saved this elevated historic railroad from demolition and converted it into a public park with landscaping and art exhibits along a concrete walkway. It first opened to the public in 2009.
From 1934 to 1980, this rail line carried meat to the Meatpacking District in New York. In 2016, the park extended from 34th Street to Gansevoort Street. The Spur of the High Line in New York City opened to the public in June 2019. This final section of the High Line extends over 10th Avenue and features the Plinth, a large art space designed to host rotating public art installations. The Spur completes the transformation of the historic elevated rail line into a public park.
Some friends from France came to town and wanted to explore this park. We walked over to the entrance on 34th street and ascended to the walkway via a long ramp. We admired the interesting artwork we saw along the way (Exhibits change out periodically.)
We exited via the 16th Street staircase to have lunch in Chelsea Market, a busy indoor marketplace with shops and restaurants.
Location: Gansevoort & Washington Streets to 34th st & 12th Ave
Designation: City Park
Date designated/established: 2009
Date of my visit: December 9, 2016
This sounds similar to the elevated green belt in Paris, also built on a former railway line. https://operasandcycling.com/a-paris-green-belt/
Interesting! I was in Paris a few times in the 90s and totally missed that!