The High Line, an Elevated Escape
Visitors don't let rain deter them as they stroll through the High Line in Chelsea.
By Pooja Shah
Welcome to Manhattan, a famous city where steel gray buildings, skyscrapers, and millions upon millions of people dominate the landscape. To evade this monotonous lifestyle (and, don’t get me wrong, I love New York City, but everyone does need some sort of break) people seek out what they lack: an escape.
One such escape, that’s pretty incredible, is the High Line – which starts in the Meat-Packing District. Having recently visited the place, I can tell you with certainty that it’s worth a trip. The High Line used to be elevated railroad tracks before it was converted into essentially a mile-long park. The tracks connected directly to factories so that freight cars ran right inside the warehouses.
Now vegetation covers the tracks and there is a pebble walkway through the shrubbery. Stairways are located at various streets to provide access to the High Line. En route, one will find the Hudson River on one side, various built-in benches, vendors, and even a grassy area to sit in.
Interestingly enough, because of the renovations and reinvention, real estate value has increased and prices for apartments have risen. The redevelopment project also created many jobs for people and now the result is an amazing place created for leisure.
There are events constantly going on at the High Line. After seeing the website, I am certainly interested in attending one of them! Kids will love the area because it is big enough to play in and adults will love it because it’s a great place for a simple stroll.
About the Author: Pooja Shah is a Public Affairs Summer Intern for EPA Region 2. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Economics at George Washington University.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.