The High Line opened its new section at the beginning of June, doubling the length of this ribbon of greenery to a mile. It now runs from Gansevoort Street to 30^th Street, linking three West Side neighborhoods.

The new section, which begins at 20^th Street, has a distinctly different character from the southern section: for most of its length, the path is quite narrow, and consists mainly of an angulated steel platform raised several feet above the rail line. The effect is to let the rail remain a visible artifact, rather than hidden among the plantings, as it mostly has become in the southern section.

Views along the new section of the High Line. All Photos: Peggy Roalf.

The cityscape also seems more present here, with walls that seem almost within reach forming backdrops for the plantings. In several places the steel deck has been extended outward, providing overlooks onto the city grid. Around 24^th Street, the Falcone Flyover, a steel catwalk, rises 8 feet above the plant beds and runs through a canopy of trees. Tucked between two large warehouses, it provides shade from the blazing sun. One of the widest sections, a bit further north, has an undulating lawn flanked by a raised wooden deck built from teak wood salvaged from a shipyard. It bears the nail holes and markings of its past, lending a ghost history to the scene.

Among the new art installations, photographer Joel Sternfeld’s billboard with a “before” photo of the High Line is a reminder of the wonderful video about his photo documentation of the rail path that was originally aired on PBS. At 21^st Street is Sarah Sze’s Still Life With Landscape (Model for a Habitat) which is located on both sides of the narrow path. It consists of homes for birds along with trays for water and seeds, all clamped onto a light grid of chrome rods that almost disappears into the foliage. Birds of several varieties were flitting about, chirping loudly and ignoring passers by in their efforts to cash in on the treats.

Left: Joel Sternfeld's billboard photo, background. Right: Sarah Sze's Still Life With Landscape (Model for a Habitat).

Along with the new section of parkway, there’s an added attraction at the northern terminus. The Lot at 30^th Street, down below, is a depot for food trucks. Gallerist Michael Foley said that his favorite is the Taco Truck; on opening day there was also a stand with a selection of artisinal brews available.

The High Line will close at 6:00 PM on Monday, July 4 due to expected crowds for the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks display on the Hudson River. Regular park hours will resume on Tuesday, July 5. The High Line design is a collaboration between James Corner Field Operations (Project Lead), Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and planting designer Piet Oudolf. View the design team here. Click to view the High Line design slideshow.