Friends of the High Line Co-Founders Win Jane Jacobs Medal

Joshua David and Robert Hammond. Image by Jeffrey Donenfeld

Jane Jacobs changed the way we look at the future of urban environments. For people who've dedicated their lives to their hometowns and cities, to be given an award in Jane Jacobs's name is a deeply meaningful honor.

That's why we are proud to announce that the Rockefeller Foundation has named Friends of the High Line Co-Founders Joshua David and Robert Hammond, and Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, founding President of the Central Park Conservancy and current President of the Foundation for Landscape Studies, as the recipients of the 2010 Jane Jacobs Medals. The Foundation awards the Medals each year to people 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." Read the press release for more details about the medals and the recipients.

We extend our deepest thanks to the Rockefeller Foundation for this special recognition, and for the very generous support it has given to Friends of the High Line.

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July 27: Final Public Hearing on High Line ULURP Application

The High Line at the rail yards, located between West 30th and West 34th Street, represents one-third of the entire historic structure, yet it has not been secured for park use. Giving the City of New York permission to take ownership of this section through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) is a critical first step, paving the way for future acquisition, design, and construction.

If you support the High Line at the rail yards, please join us at the final public hearing on the ULURP application, which, if approved, would create the option for City acquisition of the High Line at the rail yards. The City Planning Commission led by Chair Amanda Burden, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, and Community Board 4 have already recommended approval. Now it is time for the City Council to make to make a final decision.

City Council Public Hearing
Tuesday, July 27
11:00 AM
Hearing Room, 250 Broadway, 16th Floor

Please join us in thanking City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and the Council members for their longtime support of the High Line.

RSVP by emailing railyards@thehighline.org.

We will have a limited number of red "Save the High Line at the Rail Yards" t-shirts available for supporters to wear.

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NYT: High Line Inspires Others around the World

View of Chicago's Bloomingdale Trail. Image by David Schalliol

In case you missed it, the New York Times featured the High Line and other adaptive reuse projects on its front page on Wednesday, July 14.

According to the article, "The High Line's success as an elevated park, its improbable evolution from old trestle into glittering urban amenity, has motivated a whole host of public officials and city planners to consider or revisit efforts to convert relics from their own industrial pasts into potential economic engines."
We have been following the progress of other adaptive reuse projects around the world, and it is exciting to see that some are starting to take shape.

• In Chicago, the first new grade-level access park for the Bloomingdale Trail is underway and should be completed this fall.
• The Atlanta BeltLine now has three park projects under construction, over three miles of permanent multi-use trail complete, and another two-and-a half-mile stretch set to begin construction this fall. (Bonus: check out last week's WSBTV story on the High Line connection.)
• In Jerusalem, there are plans to study the feasibility of redeveloping the Park Ha-Mesila, an eight-kilometer stretch of unused rail lines that cuts through a diverse array of neighborhoods.

There are also inspiring projects underway in Boston, Jersey City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Vancouver. Visit our blog for updates and more information.

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Free Guided Walking Tours Now Offered on the High Line

New Yorkers and visitors may now enjoy a free guided walking tour of Section 1 led by a High Line Docent. Our docents are volunteers trained by Friends of the High Line staff on all aspects of the High Line's history, design, and distinct planting elements.

Every Saturday at 11:00 AM, our docents lead free, guided walks for up to 20 people. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.


For more information and updates, please visit www.thehighline.org/events.

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July 28: A Bug Hunt for Kids on the High Line

On Wednesday, July 28, Friends of the High Line invites parents and kids to grab a magnifying glass and go on a bug hunt with High Line gardener Kyla Dippong. Kids will release new ladybugs right into the park, then make a butterfly suncatcher to take home.

This event is the third in a series of Wild Wednesday activities designed for kids ages 5 and up. Wild Wednesdays take place on the last Wednesday of every month. Visit our Event Calendar to learn more.

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Now Available: A Seasonal Field Guide to Plants on the High Line

Our new Spring / Summer Plant Guide, the first of multiple editions, helps park visitors identify some of the most popular perennials, grasses, shrubs, and trees on the High Line. It is the first step in a series of new interactive initiatives to educate park visitors about the High Line's distinct planting design.

The guide includes a map of the landscape zones on the High Line, as well as plant images and information such as names, bloom time, nativity, and each plant's specific requirements.

The Plant Guide is for sale on the High Line Web shop and available for free viewing at the Field Station and Membership Cart on the High Line every Thursday and Friday afternoon, and all day Saturday and Sunday through the fall. Look for the next edition to hit the carts and our Web shop this September.

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Join or Renew Your Membership This Summer

The busiest season on the High Line is in full swing! We are thrilled to see New Yorkers making the High Line part of their daily lives, and visitors coming to the park from around the world.

To keep the High Line thriving in every season, we depend on the continued support of the High Line's most dedicated supporters. If you're not yet a member, please join or renew your membership today. Or if you have already made your 2010 membership contribution, please consider a special, additional gift to help us keep the park's flowers and trees in peak condition and to ensure that the park is clean, safe, and well-managed for its visitors.

Renew or join now to receive your limited-edition 2010 High Line postcard series!

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