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Architecture, City Life, High Line, Infrastructure, New York, Park, Railroad, Urban Planning

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High Line of New York City: Abandoned Public Infrastructure turns into Elevated Public Park

After the elevated road structure built in the 1930s for carrying freight trains through New York City has been abandoned, a community-based non-profit group protected the historic structure from demolition and created a vibrant elevated public park.
The High Line in New York City is an elevated railroad structure that was built in the 1930s for carrying freight trains through Manhattan in order to remove the relatively dangerous vehicles from the streets. It had been out of use since the 1980s and taken over by nature, when property owners demanded its demolition. Founded in 1999, the community-based non-profit group Friends of the High Line came up with the idea to transform this unique infrastructure into a vibrant elevated public park and protected the historic structure from destruction.

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LaTeisha

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November 22, 2011, 09:58PM
As an unofficial friend of the High Line, I appreciate how the elevated park has kept some of the original railroad structure visible.

After the space opened, I heard one of the co-founders speak and was struck by two thoughts--the fact that it took well over a decade for the project to come to life and the importance the founders recognized of branding the project well from the beginning.

One unfortunate outcome, and something for similar projects to consider, is that while businesses surrounding the High Line have been able to capitalize on the project's success, I don't think the Friends of the High Line (a nonprofit) has quite figured out its own financial sustainability.
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OpenIDEO

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November 22, 2011, 08:14PM
Congrats on this post being today's onsite Featured Inspiration!
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Arjun Adamson

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November 20, 2011, 08:58PM
I just wanted to add the TED talk regarding the High Line project, I enjoyed it for its succinct explanation. What I got from it was the importance of utilizing the existing infrastructure in new ways. Not the build completely new, but to see the opportunity to create with what exists. http://www.ted.com/talks/robert_hammond_building_a_park_in_the_sky.html
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Christian Walter's reply to LaTeisha 's comment

Christian Walter

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November 20, 2011, 10:04PM
Thanks! Very interesting talk, providing a good overview. I added the link to the project description.
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Arjan Tupan

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November 14, 2011, 06:10PM
I love this project, and was very sad that it wasn't open yet last time I visited NYC. However, I visited the Promenade Plantée in Paris a bit later, which served as one of the inspirations for the High Line Park. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promenade_plantée
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Mike McDearmon

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November 10, 2011, 08:41PM
I love everything about this project, and I think many cities can learn from the High Line by looking at their own 'hidden' amenities.

In that sense, there is a similar project in Phoenix, Arizona called CanalScape. The goal is to transform Phoenix's 180+ miles of rather unsightly irrigation canals into linear parks, public gathering spaces, and floating gardens. More on that project is available here: http://canalscape.org

The High Line is a wonderful example of adaptive reuse done amazingly well. Thanks for sharing!
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Meena Kadri

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November 10, 2011, 12:10AM
Great stuff, Christian – I think there's a lot to be learnt from the way that the High Line community-led organisation has evolved. Tip: to activate the links in your post, hit the Update Entry button up there on the right, then follow the instructions here: http://bit.ly/oi_link
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Christian Walter's reply to LaTeisha 's comment

Christian Walter

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November 10, 2011, 12:19AM
Thanks, Meena. I activated the links.
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