Never Say Never

Today I rented a bike at Pier 17, by the Brooklyn Bridge, and rode it ‘round the tip of Manhattan, up the Hudson River to the Upper West Side, and then I rode through Central Park. The weather was so warm, the sky a brilliant blue, it was all so perfect.

As I rode up the Hudson River, I stopped for a second day at The High Line, the newest bit of Open Space in Manhattan. It’s quite a place -

The High Line served for 50 years as a raised railroad above 10th Street in Chelsea, just a block from the Hudson River, but since the last freight train in 1980, it has been nothing more than industrial blight. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani tried to have it demolished during his term in office, but a group of neighborhood activists had a different idea.

For over a decade, “Friends of the High Line” lobbied the City and CSX Transportation (the owner of the railroad) in an effort to convert it into Open Space.The project required a tremendous effort on their part, and it’s really quite amazing that they pulled it off.

Once the way was finally clear, public interest grew . In 2003, over 700 teams from 36 countries entered the design competition. The selected team, James Corner Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro, created an ingenious concept, a stunning spot that feels like an endless botanic garden. The first section opened to the public just two years ago, in June, 2009.

Today, when I visited the High Line, I was stunned at the crowd of people ‘up there’. It is the busiest Open Space that I have experienced. Though I’m not surprised. It is also one of the prettiest places I’ve ever been.

The designers considered the probability (or possibility) of heavy use, and there are ample chairs and benches; folks lounge in the sunshine and stroll through the garden and stop at the café (yes, the scent of espresso wafts across the park; how perfectly Chelsea!)

Portions of the walk intermittently flow with water – a fascinating, surprising public fountain, if you will – that the birds simply love. All along the 19 block route, visitors enjoy a stunning 360° view of Manhattan and the Hudson River.

I love reading about, and experiencing, the work that is accomplished by community activists. It’s amazing what a group of ordinary folks – people with busy schedules, with work and young kids and aging parents and all the demands of American life – can accomplish when they possess that 'never say never' vision and commitment. This particular group transformed an obsolete industrial site into one of the prettiest garden spots in America.