History
The High Line was originally built in 1934 as part of a massive infrastructure project called the West Side Improvement. It lifted train traffic 30 feet in the air, removing dangerous trains from the streets of Manhattan's largest industrial district. The freight trains carried mostly food and agricultural goods to the upper stories of factories and warehouses. Train traffic began to decrease in the 1950s due to the rise of interstate trucking and stopped altogether in 1980. Friends of the High Line was founded in 1999 by two neighborhood residents, Joshua David and Robert Hammond. The non-profit advocated for the High Line's preservation when the structure was under threat of demolition. Now in addition to overseeing the maintenance, operations, and public programming for the park, Friends of the High Line works to raise the essential private funding to help complete the High Line's construction and create an endowment for its future operations.
Specialties
The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan's West Side. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues. High Line visitors can enjoy free programming for adults and families, extensive gardens, a variety of food options from local vendors and much more. Accessibility The High Line is wheelchair accessible via elevator at Gansevoort Street, 14th Street, 16th Street, 23rd Street, and 30th Street; and also at street-level at 34th Street. Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located at Gansevoort Street and 16th Street. Free tours are available from High Line docents. Visit thehighline.org/events to learn more. We also invite you to follow us on social media at @highlinenyc.