NYC 2026 Trip--High Line Park

The westside elevated tracks in Manhattan used to transport freight beginning back in the 1930s. The trains eventually stopped in the 1980s and the city considered tearing down the tracks. But a new idea took shape. They turned a long portion into a walking park called the High Line, which opened its first section in 2009. Starting in the Meatpacking District, it winds its way up Manhattan's west coast.

The southern end of High Line Park

Initial view on getting up to the park

The park blends wild and cultivated landscaping. Many of the railroad tracks are still there as a reminder of its original purpose.

Plants taking over

Layout of the gardens

Oddly enough, the walkway passes through several buildings. The trains did too, which was an advantage for some local businesses, like a Nabisco plant that had easy access to transport.

Looks like a dead end

Surprise!

At Tenth Street there's some stadium seating with a view down the street.

Viewing the city's busy streets

A bit of midtown

Stacked parking

Several art displays also grace High Line Park, though some are more cryptic than others.

Urban Rattle by Charlie Hewitt

Works by Sopheap Pich

I was gratified to see some water towers on top of buildings. If you read Marvel comics (especially Daredevil), it seems like these are on every building in New York City.

Rooftop water towers

More gardening

In Mortal Repose by Diana Al-Hadid

Pretty big tree for the park

At 30th Street and Tenth Avenue is the High Line Plinth, a large, open area that has plenty of seating and, when I visited, a sculpture called Dinosaur by Ivan Argote. It's a gigantic pigeon (whose ancestry is from the dinosaurs) and, oddly enough, no pigeons have roosted or pooped on this statue. Maybe they are showing respect? Fear?

16-foot pigeon sighted in Manhattan!

The weather was nice when I visited, so big crowds were walking along the pathway. It's a popular spot and fun to visit.