Rail Yard Preserve reopens, bringing back the High Line’s wild beauty
Photos by Timothy Schenck, courtesy of the High Line.
The northernmost section of the High Line reopened on Friday, returning an authentic wildness to the elevated park. Stretching from West 30th Street to West 34th Street, the Rail Yard Preserve first opened 12 years ago with minimal planting, unlike the rest of the park. After years of foot traffic and exposure to the elements, the section, which accounts for 20 percent of the High Line’s footprint, underwent a major restoration, which included adding a new pathway and an improved garden entrance with dozens of new native and ornamental trees and shrubs, preserving the self-seeded landscape that first inspired its transformation from a crumbling rail line into a beloved public park.
Designed by the High Line’s original design team–Field Operations and renowned landscape designer Piet Oudolf–the reconstructed Rail Yard Preserve is designed to withstand year-round park use.
The smoother and more durable path can now accommodate snow removal equipment, allowing the Rail Yard Preserve to stay open during the winter months for the first time. The reconstruction also restored historic Art Deco railings and added updated seating.
A major improvement is the entrance at West 34th Street, between 11th and 12th Avenues, which has a new garden designed by Oudolf. The High Line’s only street-level entrance, the entry plaza now features 52 trees and shrubs, layered with perennial plantings, Oudolf’s signature design that uses grass and plants that grow back every year.
The lush garden helps screen the adjacent bus stop and parking lot from view, while welcoming visitors with an “enchanting passageway of blooming shrubs and bird garden,” according to Friends of the High Line. Birds will find lots of seeds and berries, and humans will find peace and nature in all four seasons.
Plants like Eastern redbud, Appalachian Spring dogwood, winged sumac, and varieties of viburnum are a callback to the park’s signature plantings. New additions, like yellow archangel, will make their park debut.
“The Rail Yard Preserve holds a special place in the story of the High Line. Its wild, untamed landscape evokes the extraordinary beauty that first inspired the transformation of an abandoned railway into one of New York City’s most beloved public spaces,” Alan van Capelle, executive director of Friends of the High Line, said in a statement.
“As stewards of this remarkable place, we are committed to preserving its unique character while ensuring it continues to evolve and welcome new generations of visitors. These improvements honor the High Line’s past while investing in its future, reaffirming the power of beautiful public spaces to connect us to nature, our city, and one another.”
The Rail Yard Preserve will remain open during winter but close after dusk because of limited lighting. With the completion of the garden, the entire High Line is now open to the public.
As Richard Hayden, the High Line’s senior director of horticulture, told the New York Times: “I know I’m going to jinx this by saying this, but when the 34th Street garden opens, the entire High Line will be open and there will not be a construction shed anywhere on it for the first time in anybody’s memory.”
From the 34th Street entrance, the Rail Yard Preserve curves around Hudson Yards and connects with the 30th Street section. The section is the only one in the park that offers unobstructed views of the Hudson River in multiple directions.
Earlier this year, the Prairie Terrace at 17th Street reopened after nine years under scaffolding. Oudolf reimagined and restored the garden to adapt to the new surroundings. Last fall, the 18th Street Plaza gardens opened, adding new public space next to the One High Line condo development.
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