For those that think NYC is a concrete jungle–well, they are sort of right… but what you may not know, the city has many parks spread throughout not just Manhattan, but also through the other boroughs. When the words “park” and “New York” are mentioned, one often thinks of Central Park, but now that may change. One of the newest parks to hit the city and definitely the one getting the most press these days is the High Line Park.

The High Line is on the lower West Side of the city starting in the Meatpacking District (very trendy area full of restaurants and in general just a neat place to be) around 16th Street note: for those of you familiar with NYC but not super familiar, Madison Square Garden and the Macy’s store are around 33rd/34th so to walk, briskly, from 33rd to 16th it’d take about 40 min) This isn’t just a regular park–its an elevated walkway that allows you to traverse the West Side above the city streets with sweeping views of the Hudson river on one side and the city on the other.

heart of the Meatpacking District

Tasteful food vendors are scattered around selling Gelato and pretzels while sunbathers and those wanting to escape for a while with a book or a friend take a seat in one of the oversized teak lounge chairs that are plentiful (but get pretty full on a sunny weekend day). Currently the park is just in its first phase of completion. Once all phases are completed, the park will be a mile-and-a-half-long running through not just the Meatpacking District but also through the neighborhoods of West Chelsea and Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen.

me enjoying the teak lounge chair with a random woman beside me

I discovered the High Line when it first opened. I was down in the Meatpacking anyway having lunch at a cute place–5 Ninth where by the way I had possibly the best Cobb Salad I have ever had. After lunch I walked the park and marveled at the views and how it felt like such an escape from the streets below.

5 Ninth

You may be wondering, as I did, how this Park was dreamt up considering the fact that its elevated and how much work that must have been to get it built and up and going with this economy and NYC’s budget issues… Well, it was actually a pre-existing structure constructed in the 1930′s to lift freight trains up off the streets of Manhattan. As you walk the park you see the beautiful landscaping planted in and around the old existing railroad tracks. Pretty neat.

Since that first visit, I have been back many times and below are some of the pictures from those visits.

the still existing railroad tracks have been used as part of the landscape

the empire state building peeking out

elevated!

a jazz band playing out of their apartment–next to the High Line

just a sampling of the gorgeous sites you will see from the High Line (billboard)

Check out the High Line in person AND on their website for hours and construction information.