High Line

What started as an unlikely plan to save an elevated railway on Manhattan’s West Side has turned into an extraordinary public space.

The High Line is a 1.5-mile greenway that runs through several New York City neighborhoods. Founded by neighborhood residents, Friends of the High Line partnered with elected leaders, government officials, and supporters to preserve the historic structure and fund the transformation of the High Line into a public space. Today, working in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, Friends of the High Line manages and operates the park, and raises nearly 100% of its annual operating budget. The High Line puts on more than 400 free programs a year and hosts rotating world-class art exhibits through its High Line Art program. In 2016, the High Line saw more than seven million visitors—one third of them New York City residents. As part of its ongoing commitment to the neighborhood surrounding the park, the High Line offers teen employment opportunities that give teens important training in professional skills—from horticulture to environmental justice.