The High Line Is Worth the Cross-Country Trip - Art, Fabulous Plants and a Sky-High View of Manhattan

The High Line is astonishing. It's a several-mile-long garden-in-the-sky, obviously used and loved by Manhattanites as well as tourists. It winds through the heart of Chelsea and down the West side of Manhattan; at the north end you can watch the construction of a new Whitney Museum designed by Renzo Piano.

James Corner Field Operations (the same design team chosen to transform Seattle's waterfront after the viaduct comes down) turned an old elevated freight railway into a sleekly modern walkway, with benches, art, trellises and such intense horticulture you're submerged in flower, color and scent. You can see Piet Oudoulf's hand in the plantings - so many grasses, bulbs and perennials. The dogwoods had finished blooming, the smoke trees were coming on, and magnolias opening their waxy blossoms.

It's clean, safe, relatively quiet up there, and people rest, enjoy the view and art, picnic, stroll...what an accomplishment in the heart of New York City.

I'm writing a column about the High Line for Pacific's autumn travel issue....but in the meantime, here's a look at what drew me away from museums last week, over and over again, to hang out on the High Line...

The High Line meanders through and past buildings old and new - here's one of the more meadow-like areas that open wide, then the pathway narrows through groves of trees, opening again to banks of benches or views of the water...

The hardscape is so simple and effective, so linear, leading you along...the railway tracks appear along the walkway in some places and disappear into the plantings in others, always a reminder of the original High Line built during the depression.

The diverse array of plants all look so healthy, like this Rosa mutabilis - such a surprising selection of plants up here in the sky...

Great NYC billboard and view of the Hudson River, framed by glowing foxtail lilies. They were especially beautiful lit up in the evening...

The whole neighborhood is undergoing a renaissance because of the High Line...you can see it in the construction, shops, restaurants, and art popping up all over and around teh High Line...from this little punk mannequin to a billboard big enough to hold its own in Times Square...

 

 

 

Comments

[DariaW]

http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/11996 Did you happen to see this interview on Charlie Rose? Everyone seems a little giddy about having been involved with it's creation.

[valerie Easton]

Thanks so much for sending this link, Daria...great interview. I have to start watching Charlie Rose...
Val

[Chris]

I love that sign...I will remember to pack the right shoes on my next trip to NYC! :)