Rockin the Highline

What better way to start a week than to visit NYC's beautiful Highline Park with friends on a sunny, windy Monday.

At the top of the popular bleachers, overlooking the street below

The Highline is constructed on an old elevated freight line that served the meatpacking district on the West side of Manhattan and was used from the 1930's until 1980. Abandoned, with plans for demolition, the rail line was saved by two residents who organized and lobbied the city government to consider designing a park. Park construction began in 2006 and the first section from Gansevoort St to 20th St opened in June 2009. The latest section from 20th to 30th Sts. opened in June 2011. The final section up through 34th St has been acquired but plans not finalized.

The end of the line at 30th St.

The park is currently about a mile long and we had a pleasant stroll along the relatively uncrowded path with native spring flowers in bloom. I'm sure my son Eric, the historic interpreter, would be happy at the group's evaluation that more signage was needed to identify the types of plants. According to the website there are over 160 species, so that sounds like a lot of signs! (They do have a plant booklet available on the website that we didn't know about in advance)

We passed the Standard Hotel, but, disappointingly, not a naked body in sight. Apparently when the park first opened in 2009,  it was not uncommon to have hotel guests frolicking au naturel in their rooms in full view of park goers, causing a bit of a stir.

We had lunch at Chelsea Market and traveled back to NJ via the ferry. I was busy enjoying the day, so didn't take many photos, but here are some from the website:

the Highline Freight line back in the day

grassland and people

  walkway that evokes the feel of the rail lines

this one even I know-- crocus!