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Enjoy a Free, Guided Walking Tour with a High Line Docent

Salmaan Khan — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:54:36 -0400

High Line docents.

Walking tours are a great way to learn more about the High Line’s history, design, and distinct horticultural elements in an intimate setting.

High Line Docents are volunteers trained by Friends of the High Line staff on all aspects of the High Line. Every Saturday at 11:00 AM, a High Line Docent leads a free, guided walk through Section 1 for up to 20 people. Meet at the bottom of the Gansevoort Street stair. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, email tours@thehighline.org.

Enjoy a Free, Guided Walking Tour with a High Line Docent

Auzelle Epeneter — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:39:58 -0400

High Line docents.

Walking tours are a great way to learn more about the High Line's history, design, and distinct horticultural elements in an intimate setting.

Visit our Events Calendar for more information.

Rockefeller Foundation Honors Friends of the High Line Co-Founders Joshua David and Robert Hammond with 2010 Jane Jacobs Medals

Kate Lindquist — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:52:21 -0400

Joshua David and Robert Hammond

On July 20, 2010, the Rockefeller Foundation announced Joshua David, Robert Hammond, and Elizabeth Barlow Rogers are the recipients of the 2010 Jane Jacobs Medals. The Foundation awards the Medals each year to recipients whose work "creates new ways of seeing and understanding New York City, challenges traditional assumptions, and creatively uses the urban environment to make New York City a place of hope and expectation."

The Medals are named for Jane Jacobs, whose seminal 1961 work, "The Death and Life of Great American Cities," challenged the conventional wisdom of city planners of that era, celebrated the vibrancy of the urban streetscape, and advocated for citizen involvement in the development of neighborhoods.

In previous years, the Foundation has awarded two medals: one for New Ideas and Activism and another for Lifetime Leadership. This year, the New Ideas and Activism award is being given to both Joshua and Robert, while Elizabeth is receiving the award for Lifetime Leadership.

It is a particular honor for Joshua and Robert to be recognized with Elizabeth, the founding President of the Central Park Conservancy and current President of the Foundation for Landscape Studies. Elizabeth’s vision for park stewardship created a model for public-private partnerships to restore and improve both large and small urban parks worldwide. Elizabeth has supported Friends of the High Line from the very beginning, and the High Line would not be here today without her dedication and support.

Thank you to the Rockefeller Foundation for recognizing Joshua, Robert, and Elizabeth with these Medals, and for the very generous support it has given to Friends of the High Line.

Read the press release.

Save the Date! City Council Public Hearing on the High Line at the Rail Yards

Kate Lindquist — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:02:38 -0400

From the beginning, Friends of the High Line has fought for the full preservation of the entire High Line, from Gansevoort Street all the way to 34th Street, and its transformation into a continuous public open space.

Section 3 of the High Line, from 30th to 34th Street, at the West Side Rail Yards has not yet been secured for park use. In order for the City of New York to take ownership of this portion of the High Line, the New York City Council must approve the application that would give the City permission to acquire it.

The application has been working its way through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) process for the past six months. The City Planning Commission, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, and Community Board 4 have already recommended approval, and now it’s time for the City Council to make the final decision.

Please join Friends of the High Line at the final public hearing on Tuesday, July 27, at 11:00 AM.

While there is still much to be done, giving the City this necessary permission is the critical first step toward the ultimate goal: full preservation of the High Line north of 30th Street, including the 10th Avenue Spur, and completion of the park all the way to 34th Street.

The most effective way to make Section 3 a reality is by attending the final public hearing at the City Council and saying thank you to City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and the Council members for their long-time support for the High Line.

City Council Public Hearing
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
11 AM
250 Broadway, Hearing Room, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10007

Please RSVP for the public hearing by emailing railyards@thehighline.org.

Friends of the High Line will have a limited number of red “Save the High Line at the Rail Yards” t-shirts available for supporters to wear during the hearing. Supporters who already own red t-shirt are encouraged to wear them to show support.

This Weekend Is Family Arts Weekend on the High Line

Auzelle Epeneter — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:14:26 -0400

On July 17 and 18, Friends of the High Line will host Family Arts Weekend on the High Line — two days of free arts programs designed for kids of all ages. The programs are part of Target Arts & Wonder Free Family Event, offered at more than 80 cultural and art institutions in 30 cities throughout the country.

FREE Fitness & Movement Classes to Resume July 20

Auzelle Epeneter — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:17:38 -0400

Fitness & Movement on the High Line.

The first session of free fitness and movement classes on the High Line ended last week, but the good news is that a second session will begin very soon. Every Tuesday morning between July 20 and September 7, Instructor Frederick Schjang will teach the Feldenkrais Method and Pilates Fusion on the High Line in the Chelsea Market Passage. People of all ages and experience levels are welcome. Classes are presented in partnership with Friends of the High Line and Shape Up NYC. For more information, visit our Events Calendar.

EVERY TUESDAY: Free Pilates Fusion Class

Salmaan Khan — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 02:55:52 -0400

Fitness & Movement on the High Line.

Toning up has never been this easy! Build strength, flexibility, and endurance with this innovative 45-minute workout. Instructor Frederick Schjang combines Pilates, flexibility, and strength elements to create a total body experience.

Note: the location of this program has changed to the below:
Location: Chelsea Market Passage on the High Line, between 15th and 16th Streets.
FREE, no RSVP required. Appropriate for all ages.

Offered in partnership with Shape Up NYC

EVERY TUESDAY: Free Fitness & Movement Class

Salmaan Khan — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 22:48:24 -0400

Fitness & Movement on the High Line.

Toning up has never been this easy! Take this 45-minutes class on the Feldenkrais Method, an awareness-through-movement practice that integrates movement, breath, and vision to increase flexibility and coordination. Practicing the Feldenkrais Method promises to profoundly shape your body, empower your mind, and enlighten your spirit through focused and meaningful movement.

Note: the location of this program has changed to the below:
Location: Chelsea Market Passage on the High Line, between 15th and 16th Streets.
FREE, no RSVP required. Appropriate for all ages.

Offered in partnership with Shape Up NYC.

Nature Scavenger Hunt and Workshop for Kids on the High Line

Kate Lindquist — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:02:12 -0400

Wild Wednesday: How Seeds Grow a
Park in the Sky.

Friends of the High Line invites parents to bring their kids on a nature scavenger hunt and workshop with High Line gardener Andi Pettis on Wednesday, June 30, 2010. Kids will uncover the power hidden in tiny seeds and plant wildflower seeds in their own miniature model High Line. This is event is the second in a series of Wild Wednesdays – free programs for kids ages 5 and up that take place on the last Wednesday of each month. Visit our Events Calendar to learn more.

Supported by Target

Early Park Closure on the Fourth of July

Kate Lindquist — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:01:50 -0400

Due to anticipated crowds and the space limitations on the High Line, the New York City Police Department is requiring the park close early on Sunday, July 4. The High Line will close at 6:00 PM on Sunday, July 4 in anticipation of crowds associated with the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks display. Regular park hours will resume on Monday, July 5.

Art Opening & Talk: Stephen Vitiello

Kate Lindquist — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 11:56:14 -0400

Herald Square Bell

Join us tonight on the High Line as we celebrate the debut of A Bell for Every Minute, a new sound-based installation by Stephen Vitiello, who will speak about the piece and his other uses of sound in art. The reception begins at 6:30 PM in the 14th Street Passage on the High Line and the talk will follow at 7:30 PM. This installation is presented in partnership with Creative Time, Friends of the High Line, and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, and is made possible by a generous grant from The Rockefeller Foundation's New York City Cultural Innovation Fund. Additional funding has been provided by Vital Projects Fund, Inc., and in-kind support by JBL by Harman.

Temporary Park Closure on Monday, June 21

Julia Boyer — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:33:29 -0400

On Monday, June 21, 2010, Friends of the High Line will hold our annual summer benefit, the most important fundraising event of the year that raises the majority of the annual operating funds for the park. A portion of the event will take place in the upper level of the Chelsea Market Passage from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. To prepare for the event, this area will be closed to the public on Monday. From 5:00 to 8:00 PM, the High Line south of 17th Street will be temporarily closed for the duration of the event. At 8:00 PM, the High Line south of 17th Street will reopen to the public while the upper level of the Chelsea Market Passage remains closed to allow crews to break down the event.

Mayor Presents Doris C. Freedman Award to Friends of the High Line

Kate Lindquist — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:57:33 -0400

Doris C. Freedman Award

On Wednesday, June 16, 2010, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg presented the Doris C. Freedman Award to Friends of the High Line in the 10th Avenue Square on the High Line.

The Doris C. Freedman Award was established in 1982 by Executive Order by Mayor Edward I. Koch to recognize an individual or organization for a contribution to the people of the City of New York that greatly enriches the public environment. It is dedicated to the memory and vision of Doris Chanin Freedman (1928-1981), the City’s first Director of Cultural Affairs at the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Administration. Mrs. Freedman also served as President of the Municipal Art Society and Founder of the Public Art Fund, and she worked to establish New York City’s Percent for Art legislation. The Award recognizes Friends of the High Line for its dedication to preserving an essential piece of New York's industrial history and for transforming the High Line into an innovative public space.

Thank you to Mayor Bloomberg for selecting Friends of the High Line to be recognized with this award. And thank you to all of our elected officials, Board members, supporters, and friends who helped us make the High Line the extraordinary public space we imagined it could be.

Read the press release.

View photos from the event.

City Planning Commission Approves ULURP Application

Julia Boyer — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 22:47:57 -0400

We are pleased to announce that the City Planning Commission led by Chair Amanda Burden has voted to approve the City's application to allow it to acquire the High Line at the rail yards. The vote took place on Wednesday, June 9 — the one-year anniversary of the opening of the High Line. This vote paves the way for the final vote at the City Council in the coming weeks. While there is still much to be done to guarantee the High Line's future at the rail yards, creating the option for the City to acquire this section is a major, positive step toward our ultimate goal: full preservation of the High Line north of 30th Street, including the 10th Avenue Spur, and completion of the High Line all the way to 34th Street.

Weekend Forecast: Brass, Strings, Woodwinds, and a Chance of Vocals

Julia Boyer — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 03:02:52 -0400

Wandering Band by Ana Prvacki

Strolling musicians will perform on the High Line this weekend as part of Wandering Band by Ana Prvacki, a free public program presented by Friends of the High Line. Starting Friday, June 11, the Wandering Band artists will practice their scales, tonal, and finger exercises while strolling along the meandering paths of the High Line. This event is free and open to the public. No RSVP required. Please visit our Event Calendarfor more information.

Special Web Shop SALE in Honor of Our One-Year Anniversary!

Julia Boyer — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:14:09 -0400

Celebrate the one-year anniversary of the High Line by visiting our High Line Web Shop. Now through the end of the week, take advantage of a 50% discount on select High Line merchandise by entering the coupon code "BIRTHDAY2010" at checkout. Each purchase helps support park operations, helping us maintain the High Line as the beautiful public park we have all come to love.

Celebrate the High Line's One-Year Anniversary

Salmaan Khan — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:13:23 -0400

VP For Planning & Design, Peter Mullan

A year ago today, the first section of the High Line opened to the public. To celebrate the park's one-year anniversary, Peter Mullan, Friends of the High Line’s Vice President of Planning & Design, will present and discuss the plans for Section 2 during a talk in the 14th Street Passage on the High Line at 6:30 PM tonight, Wednesday, June 9. The talk is free and open to the public. Join us in celebrating the High Line’s first anniversary with a reception immediately following the talk. Appalachian stringband music will be provided by Stephanie Coleman, Eamon O'Leary, and Cleek Schrey. Refreshments available courtesy of People's Pops. Visit our Events Calendar to learn more.

Celebrate the High Line’s One-Year Anniversary with the NYC Lab School Chorus

Salmaan Khan — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 04:09:40 -0400

The NYC Lab School Chorus.

Come join the NYC Lab School chorus as they celebrate the one-year anniversary of the opening of the High Line with songs! The chorus will begin at 3:00 PM, and will play for fifteen minutes in the Chelsea Market Passage on the High Line. This event is free and open to the public.

Location: Chelsea Market Passage on the High Line.
FREE, no RSVP required.

UPDATE: High Line South of 14th Street

Rick Little — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 01:38:06 -0400

The High Line south of 14th Street has reopened to the public.

Free Fitness & Movement Classes on the High Line

Julia Boyer — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:22:39 -0400

Fitness & Movement on the High Line.

Toning up has never been this easy! Starting May 18, Friends of the High Line will be offering two FREE fitness and movement classes every Tuesday morning in partnership with Shape Up NYC. No RSVP required. Classes take place in the 14th Street Passage (on the High Line, between 13th and 14th Streets.) Participants must bring a yoga mat. Visit our Events Calendar to learn more about the classes.

June Blooms: A Flourishing Landscape on the High Line

Julia Boyer — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 15:38:58 -0400

Goatsbeard (Aruncus 'Horatio') in bloom. Photo by Joan Garvin.

Every time we walk the High Line, we overhear a park visitor marveling about how established the plants look after having a year in the park. The grasses are thicker and lusher, the flowers are blooming with more gusto — even the trees have a hearty at-home-ness about them.

"Many of the species selected for the High Line are vigorous, but the ultimate charm of a well-conceived landscapes stems from the shape it takes once it matures," said Patrick Cullina, our Vice President of Horticulture & Park Operations. "It may be hard to believe, but most of those plants were installed only one short year ago. We will continue to monitor the emerging patterns, and make refinements that will further strengthen our dynamic landscape." When High Line Planting Designer Piet Oudolf last visited the park, he, too, had enthusiastic things to say about how well the plants have taken root.

As the warm weather keeps coming, the gardens will continue to thrive. June's bloom forecast promises many spectacular days to view the High Line's ever-changing landscape. This month's bloom list (available here on our Web site) is rich with variety and intrigue. Many of the plants, like the Allegheny serviceberry pictured below, showcased a different kind of attraction earlier this year, and have now developed into a fresh sight.

WFMU Live Broadcast from the High Line

Kate Lindquist — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:00:53 -0400

WFMU Live Broadcast from the High Line.

Enjoy an evening of music with Friends of the High Line and WFMU's DJ/rupture and DJ Trent as they broadcast live from the High Line with special guests. Our friends at the American Astronomers Association of New York will join the fun, offering New Yorkers and visitors a chance to see the stars up close using their high-powered telescopes. Visit our Events Calendar to learn more.

Nature Scavenger Hunt for Kids on the High Line

Kate Lindquist — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:26:11 -0400

Wild Wednesday: Nature Scavenger Hunt.

Friends of the High Line invites parents to bring their kids on a nature scavenger hunt with the High Line’s Urban Park Rangers. Kids will explore the park and learn about the plants and wildlife that inhabit the High Line's garden in the sky. This is event is the first in a series of Wild Wednesdays – free programs for kids ages 5 and up that take place on the last Wednesday of each month. Visit our Events Calendar to learn more.

A Pop-Up Playground for Kids on the High Line

Kate Lindquist — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:29:40 -0400

Photo By Talisman Photo.

Friends of the High Line invites parents to bring their kids to the “Imagination Playground in a Box,” a free creative play experience on the High Line. Designed by architect David Rockwell and offered in partnership with Kaboom!, Imagination Playground in a Box invites kids to build their own pop-up playground using oversized foam blocks, mats, wagons, fabric, and more. The Imagination Playground in a Box will be on available on the High Line on Saturday, May 22, from 9:00 AM to Noon. Visit our Events Calendar to learn more.

EVERY TUESDAY: Free Fitness & Movement Class

Julia Boyer — Sun, 16 May 2010 11:25:18 -0400

Fitness & Movement on the High Line.

Note: the location of this program has changed to the below:
Location: Chelsea Market Passage on the High Line, between 15th and 16th Streets.
FREE, no RSVP required. Appropriate for all ages. Participants must bring a yoga mat.

Offered in partnership with Shape Up NYC.