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Manhattan, NY - NYC Opens Trendy Park In Meatpacking District |
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A view of green space along the first section of the High Line park in New York City.
Snaking on trestles through the fashionable lower Manhattan neighborhood, the High Line Park combines views of the Hudson River, wild vegetation, and echoes of New York's industrial history.
The park follows a rail line dating to the 1930s and seemed fated for the wrecking ball, like other relics of the city's grittier past, after the final freight train rumbled over in 1980.
"Rather than destroying this valuable piece of our history, we have recycled it into an innovative and exciting park that will provide more outdoor space for our citizens and create jobs and economic benefits for our City," Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced at the opening ceremony, his office said.
"Ten years ago, detractors thought the High Line was an eyesore. Thankfully, there were a handful of people who looked at the High Line and saw also an extraordinary gift to our city?s future. Today, we will unwrap that gift," he added.
A first section was due to open to the public on Tuesday, with a second section, stretching 10 city blocks, set to be completed some time next year.
A similar project has been built in Paris, but the High Line Park is the first of its kind in the United States, the mayor's office said.
Inspiration for the 152-million-dollar project came during the years when the line was abandoned and fans noticed wild, self-seeding vegetation conquer the disused tracks.
Those tracks remain, as do the original Art-Deco railings, all blending into new pathways, seats angled toward the sunset, and naturalistic style planting.
The park is already a hotspot for the city's trendy elite. Designer Diane von Furstenberg is one of the A-list backers of the project and last week several Hollywood actors attended a champagne preview.
A view of the trees and plants during a press preview and opening ceremony for the first section of the High Line park
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Read Comments (16) — Post Yours »
1
Jun 09, 2009 at 10:32 AM Anonymous Says:
for this the city has money!!!!!
2
Jun 09, 2009 at 10:22 AM good american Says:
someone was wondering where the city should start cutting expenses from, they suggested it should be from the day-care, child care vouchers, isn't this article a perfect example of where we should start cutting - 152 million dollars???? just a thought. also how about all those dumb looking waterfalls that resemble a leakage in a watermain coming out of the brooklyn bridge rather than niagra falls????
3
Jun 09, 2009 at 11:05 AM Anonymous Says:
here go the complainers be happy you guys are getting something .
They anyway wont ask you how to spend the money
4
Jun 09, 2009 at 11:05 AM Anonymous Says:
I hope they removed the third rail.
5
Jun 09, 2009 at 10:50 AM Eli Says:
#1 and #2, Myself, being involved in Real Estate in the city, I can tell you that this is in the plans since 2005, the city will earn 10X its money back from all the high priced condominiums in Chelsea, surrounding this park......
6
Jun 09, 2009 at 11:37 AM David Says:
I can't wait to walk it, sure it costs money, but so does upkeep in Central Park. Parks and trees make this city more liveable, reduce pollution, give niches for wildlife to thrive, and are places for us to enjoy close by instead of having to drive or travel to enjoy.
Who in his right mind would criticize this?
7
Jun 09, 2009 at 01:00 PM danger Says:
an already weakened and old elevated trestle risks being further damaged by growing roots... this is a disaster waiting to happen that will cost more $$$ in the long run. better that they just removed it entirely in the first place, and then built a park
8
Jun 09, 2009 at 02:21 PM Askupeh Says:
“ an already weakened and old elevated trestle risks being further damaged by growing roots... this is a disaster waiting to happen that will cost more $$$ in the long run. better that they just removed it entirely in the first place, and then built a park ”
I thought along those lines, then I said: Vos Veis Ich?
9
Jun 09, 2009 at 03:55 PM Aron Says:
“ an already weakened and old elevated trestle risks being further damaged by growing roots... this is a disaster waiting to happen that will cost more $$$ in the long run. better that they just removed it entirely in the first place, and then built a park ”
You don't think they thought of that? Why do you think this park costs 152 MILLION dollars? 2 million dollars to construct the park and 150 million dollars to study if the park is feasible!
10
Jun 09, 2009 at 03:45 PM Anonymous Says:
dear askupeh when did u become so shy why all of a sudden are you perhaps a bit under the weather and nuch burabim ur modeh de viest gurnisht is it only here and now or will this hold the next time somthing Yiddish comes up as well or is it that when it comes to Torah bisteh a mavin mer foon yeden afilu the gedolim.
11
Jun 09, 2009 at 03:36 PM ESTHER Says:
this is a wonderful,beautiful idea .bravo to the designers and achitects.
12
Jun 09, 2009 at 04:11 PM good american Says:
“ #1 and #2, Myself, being involved in Real Estate in the city, I can tell you that this is in the plans since 2005, the city will earn 10X its money back from all the high priced condominiums in Chelsea, surrounding this park...... ”
i'm sure the city will also earn the money back when the spend it on those ugly-looking water falls!!
13
Jun 09, 2009 at 07:57 PM oheiv shoichad Says:
“ You don't think they thought of that? Why do you think this park costs 152 MILLION dollars? 2 million dollars to construct the park and 150 million dollars to study if the park is feasible! ”
you answered your own question. the mafia costs the city millions $$$. and dont think it ends there. they just loooove the bike lanes, because they control the traffic engineering dept( costs of repainting lanes, curbs, new street signs, trash routes, etc)
14
Jun 10, 2009 at 05:16 AM Anonymous Says:
The tracks are fine until someone trips on them and sues the city for 20 million dollars.
15
Jun 10, 2009 at 08:48 AM Allan Says:
The 152 million dollars could have feed an incredible amount of hungry people in NYC for a long time, but I guess King Bloombergs ego needed to be feed again. Just imagine what organizations like Masbia could have done with that amount of $$.
16
Jun 10, 2009 at 11:04 AM Anonymous Says:
This is part of a bigger problem. Rezoning industrial zones for residential use. All these middle class manufacturing jobs do not exist and the tax base now comes from wealthy citizens while driving out the middle class.. The rift between middle and wealthy will continue because the manufacturing jobs that left to overseas are not coming back. This has already impacted middle America but it's only a matter of time before the big cities will face this widening chasm and crime will increase and qualtiy of life will decrease.