Highline

Highline refers to a specific type of elevated linear park built on a former freight rail line in New York City. The High Line runs through the west side of Manhattan, from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to 34th Street near the Hudson Yards. It was designed by landscape architects James Corner Field Operations and architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro. The project was initiated by Friends of the High Line, a community-based conservancy that also operates and maintains the park.

The High Line was built on the original structure of the West Side Line, a railway that operated from the 1930s to the 1980s. After the railway was decommissioned, sections of the elevated track were slated for demolition. However, a grassroots movement emerged in the late 1990s to preserve and transform the structure into a public space. Construction began in 2006, and the first section opened to the public in 2009. Subsequent sections opened in 2011 and 2014.

The park features a variety of plantings, seating areas, art installations, and pathways. It offers unique perspectives of the city, with views of the Hudson River, downtown Manhattan, and the surrounding architecture. The High Line has become a popular tourist attraction and a beloved public space for New Yorkers, contributing to the revitalization of the neighborhoods it traverses. Its success has inspired similar projects in other cities.