- The HighLine at W 20th St.
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40.746128, -74.006042 (OpenStreetMap, Google Maps, Yandex Maps)
- Installation. Sign
- Dimensions of rings
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31.5 x 4 in / variable
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Historical background
Railroad transport started to develop rapidly in the western part of New York during the city’s industrialization. The first railroad tracks were laid along the Tenth Avenue, but due to numerous casualties among pedestrians caught under the train wheels, which even got the Tenth Avenue the name of “Death Avenue”, the municipal authorities decided to lay the next line on metal pillars at a 10-meter height above the city streets. In 1929 the High Line railroad project was approved. The first train ran along the High Line in 1934, however development of road transportation in the 50’s had led to decline of the railroad line profitability, and in the 70’s the need for it almost disappeared. The last train was withdrawn from the route in 1980. A group of residents of the adjacent district approached the mayor’s office with a proposal to reconstruct the railroad line and arrange a pedestrian walking zone. Promenade plantée located in Paris and implemented in 1993 served as a prototype for the project. In 2004 it was approved by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and the city authorities allocated 50 million dollars toward its implementation. Building of the park started in 2006. At present High Line Park goes from Gansevoort Street through the whole Chelsea District to the 30th Street. The park is 1 mile long. The project implemented by the New York architects and designers looks unusual: the railroad tracks have been partially preserved, over two hundred tree and shrub species have been planted along the tracks, and a large number of benches, deckchairs and drinking fountains has been installed.
Present in routes of categories Griffin
Passed by: 9/9 (100%).
By categories:
- Griffin: 9/9 (100%)