Work by El Anatsui on the High Line

New York City is crammed with unique experiences you can’t get anywhere else, and one of these is the High Line, a park built on former elevated railroad tracks.  Trains ran on the High Line from the 1930s to 1980 with the purpose of delivering food to the Meatpacking District.  Today the park runs from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues and has been open since 2011.

I had already been to the High Line many times in various seasons.  However, I had never taken a tour of the greenspace, and it was extremely informative.  I would recommend the tour to anyone, first time visitor or everyday lunch break walker.  We did make the mistake of taking the tour in the ninety-seven degree heat.  Spring is the best time of year to visit to avoid sweltering temperatures but still see all of the vegetation nature has to offer.  Plants line the walkway, and some even grow up from the ground in the tracks, a reminder of the way the High Line looked when it was abandoned.

The park is not just about its greenery, however.  It also offers amazing views of the Hudson River, especially for sunsets.  From ice cream sandwiches to tacos, delectable food is available for purchase, though most of it is somewhat pricey.  Many of these vendors congregate in the covered areas of the High Line.  A final feature of the area is the rotation of captivating art dispersed throughout the park.  Currently on display is Busted, a series of busts that each have their own twist, “Good and Bad” by Uri Aran, a sound installation that simply states weird words, and many other thought-provoking pieces.

In addition to attending a tour, I also stayed for a teen night run by the teens in the High Line’s Teen Art Council and invited a few of my friends.  I had fun eating chips and guacamole, playing games, and making sand art for about an hour, but there weren’t enough interesting activities to captivate teens for the full three hours of the party.  Sounding more promising is their Glow in the Dark Dance Party on August 15th.  There will also be more free food, henna tattoos, and t-shirt printing.  I would definitely recommend checking it out.

On nice summer days when people are looking for a place to hang out and be outside, they often jump to Central Park’s Great Lawn.  But the High Line offers an unconventional alternative, and is a place I have returned to time and time again.  So lounge on its 23rd street lawn or buy ices at La Newyorkina for a change.  You never know what treasures you will find.