HIGH LINE, SECTION THREE
The Rail Yards, from West 30th to West 34th
The High Line at the Rail Yards is the third and northernmost section of the High Line park. It stretches between West 30th and West 34th Streets to the south and north, and 10th and 12th Avenues to the east and west.
The construction of the High Line at the Rail Yards has been divided into three phases. The first phase opened to the public on September 21, 2014. The second phase, scheduled for completion in 2017, will include a build-out of the passage beneath Hudson Yard’s first tower and the completion of the 10th Avenue Spur. The third and final phase of construction, which will focus on the western section of the High Line at the Rail Yards and the Interim Walkway, is dependent upon additional capital campaigns. The completion of the third phase will likely be 10 to 15 years from now.
"Representing one-third of the entire High Line, the High Line at the Rail Yards section is one of the most iconic stretches of the High Line, with expansive views of the Hudson River and the Midtown skyline. Here, we were challenged to continue to build upon the identity and success of the existing High Line, yet find a different way to respond to the radically new, 21st-century context of the future Hudson Yards development. The design takes advantage of the east-west orientation to the river, respects the existing wild landscape and industrial aesthetic, and introduces the next iteration of design elements. These include new varieties of peel-up benches, a series of Rail Track Walks and tree groves that encourage users to walk along and within the train tracks; a bridge over 11th Avenue with heightened views of the River; a unique children’s feature that transforms the High Line structure itself into a series of sunken areas that children can run between, climb over and play within; and the Interim Walkway, a temporary walkway built over the existing self-seeded landscape featuring large-scale furniture at key locations and dramatic views of the Hudson River. This latter section along 12th Avenue is perhaps the most authentically subtle design, where the “original” High Line landscape, with its self-sown grasses and flowers emerging from old tracks, wood ties, and stone ballast, remains intact."
James Corner Field Operations, Landscape Architects
The High Line
The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It is owned by the City of New York, and maintained and operated by Friends of the High Line. Founded in 1999 by community residents, Friends of the High Line fought for the High Line’s preservation and transformation at a time when the historic structure was under the threat of demolition. It is now the non-profit conservancy working with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to make sure the High Line is maintained as an extraordinary public space for all visitors to enjoy. In addition to overseeing maintenance, operations, and public programming for the park, Friends of the High Line works to raise the essential private funds to support virtually all of the park’s annual operating budget, and to advocate for the preservation and transformation of the High Line at the Rail Yards, the third and final section of the historic structure, which runs between West 30th and West 34th Streets.
Friends of the High Line is the non-profit, private partner to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Friends of the High Line works with the City to make sure the High Line is maintained as a great public place for all New Yorkers and visitors to enjoy. In addition to overseeing the maintenance, operations, and public programming for the High Line, Friends of the High Line is currently working to raise the essential private funding to help complete the High Line's construction and create an endowment for its future operations.
Friends of the High Line was founded in 1999 by two neighborhood residents, Joshua David and Robert Hammond. The 501(c)(3) non-profit advocated for the High Line's preservation when the structure was under threat of demolition. Friends of the High Line successfully worked with the mayoral administration of Michael Bloomberg and the New York City Council to reverse a City policy favoring demolition to one ensuring the High Line's preservation through the federal Railbanking program. Friends of the High Line also spearheaded the design process for the High Line's transformation to a public park, partnering with the City of New York on an international design competition that eventually selected the team of James Corner Field Operations (landscape architecture), Diller Scofidio + Renfro (architecture), and Piet Oudolf (planting design).
