Following the rapid growth and transformation of Manhattan’s West Side (Chelsea and the Meatpacking district,) the Highline opened to the public in 2009, a much needed landmark and respite for the area residents. The adaptive reuse of the abandoned railway into a linear park aims to be an integral part of the village’s new social structure.
Although, well attended on the weekend we visited, (perhaps, still enjoying its novelty status, or due to the spring weather) nonetheless, its unique features could be a constraint for its long-term raison d’être as an urban park. A contradiction to the axiom of notable urbanist like William Whyte and Jane Jacobs; the park and pathways are for the most part divorced from the commerce and active life at street level; - in one the world’s most cosmopolitan cities.
On the other hand, the siting and dimensionality gives the impression of mitigating the verticality by bringing the surrounding buildings back into a human scale. This semi-public space shares some of the common elements with the side walk café, and just like sidewalk café’s this is a passive space where the main attraction is to see and be seen, its linear proportions and the relatively narrow walkways propel visitors along the wonderful viewshed corridor, thanks to the generous setbacks. When all phases of the park are completed, it would provide alternatives for pedestrian circulation, especially during the winter months when the sidewalks below are enveloped in shade from the surrounding buildings. Another observation is the orientation of the most recent and proposed developments which make a conscious efforts to visually or physically engage the Highline Park, one strategy essential for the long term viability of the park. Ultimately how will the facilities adequately balance the potentially disparate programmatic requirements for local visitors in contrast to the tourist constituency could be the key for enduring success.
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