The High Line, a transformed railway in Manhattan’s West Side, narrowly escaped demolition in the 1980s to become one of New York City’s premier attractions, drawing about 8 million visitors annually. Opened in 2009, the 1.45-mile greenway, designed by James Corner Field Operations, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Piet Oudolf, features over 500 plant species. Expanded in phases (2012, 2014, 2019, 2023), it’s maintained by the Friends of the High Line and the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation. The park offers public spaces, gardens, free programs, and contemporary art through High Line Art, established in 2009. Its success has inspired global cities to repurpose industrial sites into vibrant public spaces. The High Line’s lush vegetation and surrounding developments, like the Whitney Museum and Hudson Yards, reflect its evolution into a dynamic urban landmark, blending nature, art, and community engagement.

This is VernissageTV’s third film about the High Line. A comparison makes it clear that not only has the High Line itself evolved remarkably, but so has its surroundings. The initially relatively sparse planting has developed into, in parts, dense, forest-like vegetation. In parallel, the buildings have also shot up: This doesn’t just refer to the new Whitney Museum at one end of the High Line and the Hudson Yards skyscrapers at the other. But see for yourself.

The High Line New York City Revisited. New York, August 29, 2025.

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What today forms the foundation for one of New York City’s main attractions was on the brink of demolition in the 1980s: the “West Side Elevated Line” railway, which, since 1933, transported millions of tons of goods through Manhattan’s West Side. Thanks to the commitment of the “Friends of the High Line,” the first section of what is now the park was opened in 2009. Responsible for the design of the High Line Park were the landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations, the design studio Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and planting designer Piet Oudolf. Due to the immense success of the High Line Park, it has become an inspiration for cities worldwide to transform unused industrial areas into vibrant public spaces.

Since its opening, the High Line Park has been continuously expanded: The first section of the High Line stretched from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street. The second section (20th to 30th Street) opened in 2012, and the third (Rail Yards, between 30th and 34th Street and 10th and 12th Avenue) in 2014. In 2019, The Spur (30th Street and 10th Avenue) was added, followed by the Moynihan Connector in 2023.

Today, the High Line is a continuous 1.45-mile (2.33-kilometer) greenway featuring over 500 species of plants and trees. The park is maintained, operated, and programmed by the Friends of the High Line in partnership with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation. In addition to public spaces and gardens, the High Line offers a diverse range of public programs, community and youth activities, and world-class artworks and performances—all free and accessible to everyone. According to data from 2019 and subsequent years, the High Line Park in New York City attracts approximately 8 million visitors annually.

Contemporary art has been an integral part of the High Line from the beginning. High Line Art was established in 2009 and continues to commission and produce artworks on and around the High Line each year.

This is VernissageTV’s third film about the High Line. A comparison makes it clear that not only has the High Line itself evolved remarkably, but so has its surroundings. The initially relatively sparse planting has developed into, in parts, dense, forest-like vegetation. In parallel, the buildings have also shot up: This doesn’t just refer to the new Whitney Museum at one end of the High Line and the Hudson Yards skyscrapers at the other. But see for yourself.

• Another Walk on the High Line / High Line Park, New York City. The High Line Park, Phase 3, November 14, 2014.
• A Walk on the High Line. The High Line Park, New York City. The High Line Park, Phase 2, September 24, 2011.
• High Line Public Art, New York City / Interview with Lauren Ross. March 5, 2011.