First morning in New York, jet lag is well and truly kicking in so wide awake at 6am and we’re off to the High Line.
The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long elevated park, and was created on a former New York Central railroad spur on the west side of Manhattan.
It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues. At 8am in the morning it is still relatively empty and peaceful.
The High Line is sited on a former elevated train line that was designed to go through the centre of blocks, rather than over the avenue, carrying goods to and from Manhattan’s largest industrial district. But the last train used the line in 1980 before falling into disrepair.
In 1999 the Friends of the High Line is founded by Joshua David and Robert Hammond, residents of the High Line neighborhood, to advocate for the High Line’s preservation and reuse as public open space.
It is now a peaceful, green space that floats above Manhattan’s frantic bustling crowds.
The High Line’s planting is inspired by the self-seeded flowers and trees that grew on the out-of-use elevated rail tracks during the 25 years after trains stopped running.
Sparkling, futuristic glass buildings tower above the serene park – with developers taking advantage of the boom in popularity of the area.
Ironically, what was once a run-down area is now becoming an expensive, sort after area due to the High Line.
The stark difference between the old and new ways are shown explicitly in the architecture above.
The High Line culminates in a stretch along the Hudson River where huge new developments are sprouting to the skies.
Next up we’re heading for our first taste of the neon wilderness that is Times Square!!