NYoy - high line at the west side rail yard

Today would be time for another NJoy post but I want to share photos of my walk on the undeveloped part of the High Line with you, which technically would make it a NYoy post ;)

Last Sunday P and I got the chance to walk along the High Line at the West Side Rail Yards, which runs from West 30^th Street to West 34^th Street and is still in its wild state. The rare chance to experience this part of the High Line before it turns into part of the park was also part of Open House New York and also sponsored by uniqlo.

When standing on this part of the elevated tracks you get a great view of the Hudson River and a peek of the West Side Rail Yards, where Long Island Rail Road trains get stored on their way to and from Penn Station. With 26 acres the West Side Rail Yards is the largest undeveloped property in Manhattan, it belongs to the MTA and they have leased the development rights to a private real estate development company that will build a platform above the yards to create approx. 12 million square feet of residential and commercial space.

I am a big fan of the High Line park and in the summertime I sometimes walk around the park or just hang out and read a book during my lunch hour, as it is within walking distance to where I work. Love to get a glimpse of the untouched wild landscape and the train tracks before it will be turned into a section of the park. I can clearly see how the wild landscape inspired the idea of the High Line and the design that was chosen for it. The Rail Yard section of the park is slated to open in 2014 and although most of the tracks, ballasts and plants will be removed during site remediation the new design idea includes plans for an Interim Walkway that will wind through the existing self-seeded landscape. I have to say I cannot wait for this part of the High Line to open. Fun fact about the High Line is that the last train that ran on it carried a load of frozen turkeys….

Have a great and sunny weekend!