photo by JoAnn Greco
The High Line has been a tantalizing promise for so many years it hardly seems possible that a substantial portion is now actually open. Approaching from West 14 Street, its black iron appears a lot less rusty and its vegetation a lot less random than in its formerly derelict state. Refurbished, the elevated rail track looks inviting, but not sissified and not too new. A block south, at Gansevoort Street– past the chi-chi outdoor patios of the new Standard Hotel– a wide sturdy concrete stairway hosts a steady stream of the curious (at this visit, strollers were allowed to walk in both directions, not just north as during the first week).
But it’s not until reaching the top, some three stories above ground, that visitors feel the impact of this exciting and very successful public space. It’s a priceless and welcome combination of beefy vintage civic architecture, decidedly modern landscape design, and picture-perfect views of both the Hudson and of a great swath of Manhattan (check out the Empire State Building).
The High Line also offers peace (so far, no bladers or bikers are allowed– they’ve got another recent and excellent development, the Ninth Avenue bike lane, down below), billowing greenery (a heady mix of native and hardy grasses and wildflowers), and a playful and thoughtful variety of seating options.
Best of all, though, the space gifts us all with that most intangible of big city assets: the palpable opportunity to indulge in the sheer pleasure of one another’s company. Walk it and leave behind any sense of grit, grumpiness, or gracelessness. Information: www.thehighline.org
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