A Message from Co-Founders

Dear Supporters,

Thank you for helping us make 2010 an extraordinary year for the High Line. We thought you might enjoy these images and video of some of our favorite moments that you helped make possible.

As we move forward toward opening Section 2 in the spring, we hope that you'll continue to help us make the High Line the unique and special place that we've all come to love.

Thank you, and happy holidays,

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2010 in Photos

2010 began with regular snowy and icy conditions on the High Line. We've made a commitment to sustainable operations and the preservation of the High Line's plantings, and do not use salts or chemicals to clear the park's pathways. A heavy snowfall requires "all hands on deck," and it can take several hours of work before the park can fully open to visitors. Photo by Marcin Wichary

In the early spring, our gardeners, administrative staff, and neighborhood volunteers spent more than 1,200 hours preparing the park's planting beds for new growth. Read more. Photos by David Kimelman and Friends of the High Line

Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) in bloom in the Gansevoort Woodland (thanks to Donald Pels and Wendy Keys). Photo by Friends of the High Line

On April 2, we welcomed our 2,000,000th (and 2,000,001st) visitors to the park, Zach and Lexi Hauser (center). Co-Founder Joshua David, Deb Hauser, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Richard Conolly, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, and City Planning Chair Amanda Burden helped us celebrate the occasion. Read more. Photo by Joan Garvin

In May, we debuted Richard Galpin's Viewing Station, an interactive artwork through which park visitors experience an altered, abstracted view from the High Line. Galpin's piece will remain on view through May, 2011. High Line Art Commissions are made possible by Donald R. Mullen, Jr., with additional support for Viewing Station made by Hales Gallery, London. Read more. Photo by Karen Blumberg

Left, the Northern Spur Horticultural Preserve (thanks to the Christy and John Mack Foundation). Right, Mount Everest onion (Allium 'Mount Everest') in the Chelsea Grasslands (thanks to The Tiffany & Co. Foundation). Photos by Friends of the High Line

Co-Founder Robert Hammond and composer Lisa Bielawa debuted Chance Encounter on the Tiber on May 30. The project, an experiment in public space, involved movable chairs placed in the open area along Rome's Tiber River during a public music performance. Watch the video.

On Memorial Day, we hosted a live broadcast on the High Line with WFMU's DJ/rupture and DJ Trent. Music was accompanied by a performance from Minusbaby, interviews with High Line staff, and free stargazing with the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York. Read more. Photo by Yoon Kim

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Susan K. Freedman, President of the Public Art Fund, presented Friends of the High Line with the Doris C. Freedman Award on June 16. The award, in memory and vision of Doris Chanin Freedman, recognizes an individual or organization for a contribution to the people of the City of New York that greatly enriches the public environment. Read more. Photos by Joan Garvin and Spencer Tucker

Hyisheem Calier, Juwan Stone, and Kylah Bruno are high school students and West Chelsea residents who served as members of the High Line Youth Corps this year. Hired in partnership with Hudson Guild through a job-training program called Power-Up!, they worked and learned with nearly every department at Friends of the High Line throughout the year. The Youth Corps are part of High Line Schools & Education, which is supported by the Altman Foundation, the Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation, The Brown Foundation, Inc., of Houston, the Concordia Foundation, HSBC Bank USA, NA, and Target, with additional support made by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Photo by Friends of the High Line

A musician performs in Ana Prvacki's "Wandering Band," a public program that featured a collection of volunteer vocalists and musicians who performed their daily practice of scales, tonal, and finger exercises throughout the High Line. Read more. Photo by Kiersten Chou

On June 21, we held our annual Summer Benefit, our largest fundraiser of the year. Cocktails took place on the High Line before guests moved to dinner at Phillips de Pury Gallery on West 15th Street. This year's events honored Donald R. Mullen, Jr. and The Tiffany & Co. Foundation for their generous support of the High Line. All funds raised went towards the ongoing maintenance and operations of the park. Left: Anisa Kamadoli Costa, Donald R. Mullen, Jr., and Fernanda Kellogg; Right: Ethan Hawke. Photos by Clint Spaulding/Patrick McMullan Company

Foxtail lily (Eremurus stenophyllus) and wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) in the Chelsea Grasslands (thanks to The Tiffany & Co. Foundation). Photo by Cristina Macaya

We're thankful for the hard work and dedication of the volunteers who donate their time and expertise to the High Line. This year, High Line Greeters spent more than 1,000 hours answering visitors' questions about the park, and our new team of High Line Docents made it possible for us to be able to offer free tours for the public. Photos by Jose Martinez and Friends of the High Line

On June 23, we debuted Stephen Vitiello's A Bell for Every Minute in the 14th Street Passage in partnership with Creative Time. The piece, a multi-channel sound installation, is a collection of bells recorded all over New York City and beyond. This High Line Art Partnership was made possible by the Rockefeller Foundation's New York City Cultural Innovation Fund, with additional support from Vital Projects, Inc., and in-kind support from JBL by Harman. Read More. Photo by Jason Mandella

On July 29, we celebrated a major step forward for the High Line at the rail yards. Under the visionary leadership of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, the City approved the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) application, creating the option for the future acquisition, design, and construction of the High Line at the rail yards. Rail yards advocacy and programming are supported by The New York Community Trust, Greenacre Foundation, the many individual donors to our year-end rail yards appeal, and with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts. In 2010-2011, all rail yards funding is matched, dollar-for-dollar, through a leadership challenge grant from The New York Community Trust—LuEsther T. Mertz Advised Fund. Read more.

Thank you to all of the volunteers and donors who helped us show that there is widespread public support for transforming the last third of the High Line into public open space. Photos by Joel Sternfeld and Greg Spaide

On August 12, Asphalt Orchestra, the guerrilla marching band known for putting on spirited and dynamic performances in Lincoln Center Plaza and other famous public spaces around New York City, gave a free performance on the High Line. Read more. Photo by Karen Blumberg

In the summer, crews began planting in Section 2. American holly trees (Ilex opaca) were among the first trees to arrive. Ranging from 5 to 15 feet tall, and weighing between 500 and 1,000 lbs, the trees were delivered to the High Line by crane. Read more. Photos by Friends of the High Line and Joan Garvin

On August 12, we partnered with Hudson Guild to host an evening of mambo and salsa dancing on the High Line. Lori Brizzi gave lessons for people of all ages and abilities, and the Orlando Marin Orchestra played live accompanying music. Photo by Karen Blumberg

Over 1,600 children visited the High Line this year on field trips. During the 75-minute visits, students become historians, horticulturists or landscape architects, using photographs and maps to hunt the High Line for clues to the park's unique history. Each visit supports New York State Learning Standards. High Line field trips are made possible by our High Line Schools & Education funders. Photo by Joan Garvin

The High Line is an ever-changing landscape. In Section 1 this year, we planted 1,323 perennials, 562 grasses, 39 shrubs, 22 trees, and 5,900 bulbs—over 7,800 plants, including 19 entirely new species and 8 new cultivars. High Line horticulture and maintenance supplies are made possible by Greenacre Foundation. Photo by David Kimelman

Demetrius Oliver's Jupiter debuted on September 7. The public art installation included a 25-by-75-foot photographic banner on a billboard adjacent to the High Line at West 18th Street, live stargazing, and musical performances by Blanche Bruce and students from The New School. High Line Art Commissions are made possible by Donald R. Mullen, Jr., with additional support for Jupiter made by The Greenwall Foundation, in-kind support from Edison Properties and Maharam, and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York State Council on the Arts. Read more. Photos by Jason Mandella and Yoon Kim

Maintaining the park at the high standard that we've come to expect can be hard work. This year we removed over 110,000 gallons of trash from the High Line. Photo by Friends of the High Line

Wild Wednesdays, a free monthly family activity on the High Line, began this summer and ran through the fall. Kids visited the High Line on the last Wednesday of every month to learn about the park's unique environment through hands-on activities. Watch a report from NY1. Wild Wednesdays are made possible by our High Line Schools & Education funders. Photos by Friends of the High Line

We hosted a special screening of "NY Export: Opus Jazz" on September 10. The film, shot on-location in abandoned spaces in New York City, including the High Line at the rail yards, re-imagines Jerome Robbins' groundbreaking 1958 ballet. After the screening, the producers and dancers discussed the making of the film with the audience. If you missed our showing on the High Line, the film is now out on DVD. Screenings on the High Line are supported by Vimeo. Photo by Joan Garvin

On September 29, we presented Autumn Crossing, a free open-air performance by dance artist Naomi Goldberg Haas, her dance company, Dances For A Variable Population, and senior citizens from Hudson Guild. The piece featured rich, colloquial movements that seeked to erase the traditional boundaries between dancers and non-dancers by mixing senior citizens and young adults and professionals. Watch the video.

Tom Colicchio and Colicchio & Sons hosted the fourth annual High Line Chefs Dinner on October 3, where guests were treated to flavorful tasting dishes from the neighborhood's top chefs. Funds raised at the dinner support the maintenance and operations of the park. From left: Joshua David, Tom Colicchio, and Robert Hammond. Photo by Patrick McMullan Company

Friends of the High Line Co-Founders Joshua David and Robert Hammond were honored with two medals this October: the New York Post's Liberty Medal for Lifetime Achievement, and the Rockefeller Foundation's Jane Jacobs Medal, which was also awarded to Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, Founder of the Central Park Conservancy. Photos by Jonathan Baskin and Jay Ackerman

Francis Cape's The Other End of the Line was on view from October 22 through November 21. Drawing inspiration from the High Line's historical link to Upstate New York, Cape transformed a previously-occupied mobile home into a public exhibition space. High Line Art Commissions are made possible by Donald R. Mullen, Jr., with additional support for The Other End of the Line made by The Greenwall Foundation and public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Read more. Photo by Jason Mandella

After studying the High Line, Carol Levitt's 2nd grade class at the Village Community School built a giant model of the High Line in their classroom. Our photo tour of their creation has been one of our best-loved blog posts this year. Photos by Friends of the High Line

Preliminary plans have been created for the High Line Maintenance and Operations Facility to be built adjacent to the High Line near Gansevoort Street. Photo courtesy of Renzo Piano Building Workshop & Beyer Blinder Belle

The new High Line and Operations Facility building will be adjacent to the future Whitney Museum building. Read more. Rendering courtesy of Renzo Piano Building Workshop in collaboration with Cooper, Robertson & Partners

In order to help you identify the more than 200 plant species that make up the High Line's landscape, we created two seasonal guides, complete with full-color photographs, maps, and information about growing conditions.

Check out the Spring/Summer Guide and the Fall Guide on the High Line Web Shop.

Throughout October, students from PS3, PS11, and PS33 worked with puppet master Ralph Lee to build a giant spider puppet, which was later installed on the High Line during our Halloween festivities. The kids celebrated the completion of the project with a dance performance. Halloween Hi-Jinx on the High Line was made possible by our High Line Schools & Education funders. Photo by Kiersten Chou

Construction is moving along in preparation for the opening of Section 2 next spring. The 26th Street Viewing Spur is a design feature that recalls billboards that were once attached to the High Line. The frame will enhance, rather than block, views of the city, showcasing High Line visitors instead of advertisements. Read more. Photo by Tim Schenck

Take a video tour of Section 2's design features and construction site.

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2010 in News Stories

Below are a few of our favorite news stories from 2010. Read more in our press archive.

"Parks are successful as places that bring the public together, bring the community together, bring people from all over the city together, and introduce visitors from outside of the city to the life of the city."
—Wallpaper*: Life-enhancer of the Year Award: The High Line

"If exhibition attendance were the sole measure of curatorial clout, Lauren Ross, 39, would rank almost as high as the chief curator of MoMA in the New York art world—and she doesn't even work for a museum."
—The Art Newspaper: Taking the High Line: the art park that rivals MoMA

"Art should be an elevating experience. So perhaps it's no surprise you can find some wonderful contemporary art inside New York City's only elevated park."
—NY1: High Line Elevates Work of Local Artists

"It is a public space for the future of New York City."
—BBC: Heritage Heroes: Joshua David and Robert Hammond

"New York's accomplishment is providing ammunition for boosters while giving skeptics much-needed evidence of the potential for success. The High Line has become, like bagels… another kind of New York export."
—The New York Times: After High Line's Success, Other Cities Look Up

"Now I'm more interested, and I'm more intrigued by planets, and I want to learn more about them."
—NY1: Young Stargazers Peer At Heavenly Spheres From The High Line

"All agree that a submarket [along the High Line] has been created, the strength of which could not have been envisioned just five years ago."
—The New York Times: As a Park Runs Above, Deals Stir Below

"The High Line hasn't been used by trains for some time, but it turns out it's a good commuter route for bees."
—WNYC: All the Buzz: Citizen Scientists Watch Bees on the High Line

"It's a physical embodiment of the idea of taking an old, urban structure that's decaying and giving it a new life."
—The Wall Street Journal: Turning the City's Sights Into Sounds

"It feels like a Venetian canal, compared to the southern part… Like you're walking through the set of 'Rear Window.'"
—The New York Times: High Line's Second Phase Differs from the First

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Help Sustain the High Line in 2011

As we enter into the final stretch of 2010, we are so grateful to you for helping to make the High Line such a success. We are now entering our most exciting and celebratory year yet, with the opening of Section 2 of the High Line, from West 20th to West 30th Street. This will be a landmark year, but it will also present some of our toughest challenges.

If you have already made a year-end gift, thank you so much for your dedication to the High Line. If not, we hope you'll consider a special, additional gift to help us maintain and operate the High Line so that it remains one of the most beautiful public landscapes our city has ever seen.

Please, make your tax-deductible year end contribution before December 31 to sustain the High Line in the year to come.

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