Faithful New Yorkers have exhausted the existing open stretch of the west side High Line - the elevated park over 10th Avenue that has wowed both locals and visitors alike. But how many times can you really walk the short span before it gets tired? We say not many. Fortunately today marks the opening of the high Line's newest section.
The opening of the second section doubles the length of the public park, making it now one mile long running from Gansevoort Street to West 30th Street, connecting the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Midtown West.
"The High Line is already a world-renowned destination and New York City icon, and with the addition of Section Two, it makes for an even more enjoyable experience," said New York City's Mayor Bloomberg at the opening ceremony, which took place on the High Line at the 23rd Street lawn. "The second half-mile adds different views and new features, making it distinct from the first section but no less remarkable. Just as the transformation of the High Line is ongoing - something that will be advanced further by the Tiffany & Co. Foundation Rail Yards Challenge - so too is the transformation of the area around it. Since work on the High Line began, we've seen the development of or planning for more than $2 billion in private investment, adding thousands of new residential units, thousands of new jobs, 1,000 new hotel rooms, and new restaurants, galleries and shops."
The buzz: In celebration of the opening, Friends of the High Line has commissioned four new public art installations and organized more than 100 public events for the summer season (think dance performances, poetry readings, family arts workshops, nature scavenger hunts for kids, salsa dancing, film screenings and more).
For more information visit www.thehighline.org.