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New York City High Line Park Early May
It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon on the High Line in NYC. The High Line (also known as the High Line Park is a 1.45-mile-long (2.33 km) New York City linear park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets of Manhattan's West side. The park runs from Gansevoort Street (three blocks below 14th Street) in the Meat Packing District through to the northern edge of the West Side Yard 34th Street near the Javits Center.
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| The NYC High Line in Early May |
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| Tulips (Tulipa turkestanica) |
The Park, owned by the City of New York, is maintained and operated by Friends of the High Line which was founded in 1999 by a community of residents. Friends of the High Line fought for the High Line’s preservation and transformation at a time when the historic structure was under the threat of demolition.
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| High Line RR Tracks and Gardens |
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| Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) in Bloom |
The refurbishing of the railway into an urban park began construction in 2006, with the first phase opening in 2009 and the second phase opening in 2011.The third and final phase officially opened to the public in September of 2014. A once abandoned railroad track has now become an array of blooms for residents and visitors to enjoy.
'Sherwood Purple' creeping phlox Early May High Line Gardens
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| New York City High Line Park |
The High Line was constructed back in 1847 when street-level railroads utilized to transport goods to businesses and warehouses were deemed unsafe due to increased traffic demands. The city and state of New York and the New
York Central Railroad decided to construct the elevated High Line as part of the Manhattan West
Side Improvement Project.
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| Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Toyo-Nishiki’) NYC High Line |
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| Tulipa linifolia ‘Red Hunter’ Early May High Line |
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| Artwork Along the High Line |
The High Line has been developed with various works of public art and the native greenery incorporated into the long forgotten tracks has preserved the history of the area, leading to a beautiful and dynamic park. The New York City skyline as well as the Hudson River can be seen as a backdrop to the gardens.
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| Fothergilla x intermedia ‘Mount Airy’ (Mount Airy fothergilla) |
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| Tulipa sylvestris (Wild Tulips) High Line |
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Allegheny Serviceberry Blooms on the High Line Early May
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| View of Hudson River from High Line |
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| Cornus florida ‘Jean’s Appalachian Snow’ Dogwood in Bloom |
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| NYC High Line Park |
The High Line gardens are a welcomed addition and have certainly added a certain charm by combining urban atmosphere with the beauty of nature, right in the heart of New York City. The park's carefully planned display of native plantings, mature
trees, blooms and artwork has developed into an extraordinary public space for visitors of all ages to enjoy. To walk the High Line takes approximately two hours and as of September 2014, the park gets
nearly 5 million visitors annually.
Visit the High Line
on-line!
As Always...Happy Gardening!
Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, ©Copyright 2015. All rights reserved
