Experiencing the High Line

Rainbow City for the children

The still undeveloped section
of High Line above 30th Street

by Sunah Park

When we arrived at 10th Avenue and 30th Street, the first thing that welcomed us was a variety of shapes: colored balloons in the shape of mushrooms, boxes, columns, and balls in a playground. A lot of children played among them with joy. It was called Rainbow City. While children were playing in the playground, adults drank alcohol like draft beer at the Lot, a huge and open bar right beside the Rainbow City. There were long picnic tables and benches. On one side, there was a bar. Everyone sat on the benches or stood at the bar and enjoyed the atmosphere freely. It was below the High Line, so it was shady and cool. One thing that caught my eye were fluorescent lamps which were suspended from the ceiling like chandeliers. These two places are said to be open only this summer.

The Lot under the High Line on 30th Street.

Going through the Lot, there was a staircase going up to the High Line. This area is the end of section 2 of the High Line, and it just opened this June. Before, I thought it would be as high as a skyscraper due to its name, High Line, and I would be able to look over Manhattan and the Hudson River as if from the top of the Empire State Building. However, once I got up, it was no higher than the 3rd floor of a building and was even surrounded by many tall buildings. I was a little bit disappointed because of the gap between my imagination and reality.


The part above 30th street was not developed yet, and the area was blocked by a fence and looked like an abandoned and desolate wilderness; on the other side, an elaborately decorated High Line stands in contrast to 30th street below. In fact, the High Line was narrow and tight; some areas had just enough room for four people to pass. Half of the High line showed nature with a variety of colored wildflowers and tiny trees. The train tracks were sometimes beside the trail and small flowers and grasses were scattered between these tracks. They looked original; however, they were newly planted when the High Line was renovated. Although I already knew this fact, they still looked very natural.

 Even the benches throughout
the park are works of art. 

Old buildings along the High Line

There were many benches made of concrete and wood along the High Line. On one end, the benches seemed to be emerging from the ground, while the other end looked the same as any regular bench. Because of the funny appearance, many people are supposed to be at ease and relaxed rather than walk fast. Passing by the forest of high buildings that stood along the High Line, the view opened at every intersection. People could have a good look at the neighborhood below, which included a Firestone car repair shop or fire house, or residential buildings.

Most buildings next to the High Line were very old and even antiquated, but residents made them look nice with flowers on window boxes or thickly grown ivy climbing the walls. There were also buildings with cutting-edge styles. Unlike the antique ones, which were built of brown bricks, they had bright colors with metallic silver walls, or huge glass walls and unique designs like a piece of jigsaw puzzle. All of them reflected the sun, so they attracted visitors’ attention easily. This sort of differences allowed people to find more pleasure in the area.

A lawn along a stretch of concrete path

The High Line had a lot of resting places. A long lawn suddenly appeared or stair shaped long bench settled beside the path. Some lay down on the grass and sunbathed or enjoyed their lunch here and there. Close to the southern end of the high Line was a small water feature. It didn’t have a fountain, but the water flowed softly from one side of the path to the other. Adults sitting on benches which were inside the feature dipped their bare feet in the water looking over the Hudson River, and children wearing swimsuits were busy playing, running, and shouting delightfully in the water. Across from the water feature, there were unique chairs. They were put on tracks with small wheels. I’m not sure if they could move along the tracks, but if they did, it would be fun to see.

The water feature!

Newer buildings with metallic and glass facades
also rise right next to the High Line.

submitted by Sunah Park
class: Explore NYC