Green Snake Manhattan (52 pics + 1 video) Bashny.Net

High Line (The High Line) - it is quite a unique place in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. Park Alley, located at an altitude of 10 meters above the ground on the former line of the New York trains, stretches for 1, 6 km from Gansevoort Street (one block from West 12th Street) to 30th Street.

Park in Manhattan on the site of the equipped elevated railway.

Skytrain appeared in the area in 1934. Originally she was going through the neighborhoods, so as not to compete with the underground, from 34th Street down to the terminal at St Johns Park on Spring Street. While it was a very ambitious project, it allows workers to easily get to the factories and warehouses in this part of New York. In the middle of the XX century due to the growth of road transport need in this line start to fall away, and the last train passed through it in 1980. In the same decade, there were plans to dismantle the line, but it defended in the hope once again to put the motion here.

In the middle of the last century in New York, built the ground branch railway passes through Manhattan on 10th Avenue. The length of this freight line was 2, 5 km. However, despite the efficiency of freight traffic, the line with the time gained notoriety. Branch called "Avenue of Death" as the wheels pass is too many people perished.

In the second half of the 90s, when the High Line was in very poor condition, the city administration again has intended to demolish it, but created in 1999 by local activists proposed the project of turning the abandoned line into a pedestrian park alley, which was subsequently supported by the new Mayor Michael Bloomberg . He was present at the ceremony in April 2006, marking the start of construction of the park. First, the most southern part of the High Line Park was opened in 2009, and in June 2011 - is the longest section, running between 20th and 30th streets. The third section of the line, located between 30th and 34th streets, has not yet been built.

We tried to solve the problem with the help of the rider that followed in front of each train in order to prevent accidents, but that people do not become less die. Then the municipality went to extremes and the branch raised to a height of 9, 1 meter. But it lasted long. With the development of road transport industry need for city rail line began to diminish. The last train passed through it in 1980, after which the road was abandoned.

At one time the branch would carry, but thanks to the efforts of enthusiasts, it was decided to turn it into a green zone. The first section of the High Line Park was opened in 2009. Over the next year it was visited by over 2 million. People. In June this year the municipality has opened a long-awaited second section (of 3 planned).

The photo of James Shaughnessy 1953 Empire State Building, filmed from the railway High Line. Since 1847 this road carries freight meat, dairy products, as well as supplies to factories and meat-packing district of West Side near the Hudson River.

Authors of the project have provided a variety of balconies and openings that allow visitors to observe the surrounding area streets, courtyards and squares of Manhattan. Not all of the High Line is equally expressive, but on the whole landscape designers managed to create a pleasant countryside atmosphere, which contrasts sharply with the surrounding skyscrapers and ordinary houses.

Overpass is located at an altitude of 30f (~ 10 meters) above street level, and the main part of its runs parallel to 10th Avenue. It takes place among the Meat Packing District, part of the indoor mall Chelsea Market / Chelsea Market / and opens an excellent view of the rapidly being transformed, but sometimes quite unpresentable city. The new mixed with old or past, which stubbornly resists idealized cliché.

The area still retains many of its old pretensions. Designers and current owners of the park did not foresee such an instant popular place among tourists, which was short-sighted, but it is quite common. Residents of park built for himself, and received another fashionable parties, the fate of this can be seen in the area. The most interesting places viewing the lattice of wires stretched, the volunteers on duty pulls those fascinated by stepping on the grass between the sleepers, and how not to step on it? When looking through photos, I noticed with regret that almost all of them are made in the direction of the city. The appearance of the trestle, I almost took off due to a lack of distance and controversial appeal for me.

That's how it looked before.

But so does now

Park alley that runs between the old houses of Chelsea looks really unusual. In some places they have been preserved old railroad tracks, and along the park planted with trees and shrubs, creating a unique landscape at the intersection of nature and industrial landscapes. It offers a great view of the Hudson River and New Jersey, as well as the district itself Chelsea, who in the past couple of decades has become a center of contemporary art with a variety of art galleries, some of which are located right next to the park. In addition, the park often held various installations, and in his spare time, you can see different artists and theater groups rehearse. The park has set up an excellent infrastructure - drinking fountains, toilets, beds and more. This is truly a unique place even by the standards of such a diverse city like New York.