The High Line in New York City is a rather new place for New Yorkers to relax and enjoy the city. The pedestrian walkway and park was created by the non-profit Friends of the High Line along a former elevated rail spur in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. The first section of the part, from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street, opened as a city park on June 8, 2009. Phase two of the High Line redevelopment opened in June 2011. In this video, we take a walk on the second section of the High Line, running from 20th to 30th Street.
When all sections are complete, the High Line will be a mile-and-a-half-long elevated park. The High Line is not only a remarkable piece of landscape architecture, designed by James Corner Field Operations with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, but also a place where contemporary art is presented to the public.
The Public Art program of the High Line consist of presenting temporary artworks in all mediums in and around the High Line on a rotating schedule. Currently on view are Darren Almond, Kim Beck, Spencer Finch, Charles Mary Kubricht, Julianne Swartz, Sarah Sze. There’s a list of recent and upcoming commissions on the Public Art page of the High Line’s website. See also our interviews with artist Kim Beck and curator Lauren Ross.
The High Line is such as success, that it inspires similar projects in other cities, but there are also doubts whether its success is replicable.
A Walk on the High Line. High Line Park, New York City. September 24, 2011.
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Full-length video (16:50 Min.):