New York City High Line Holiday Walk on December 14, 2024

[David Ostafin]

Join us on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. for an easy walk on the New York City High Line (1.45 miles) on an elevated rail structure located on Manhattan's West Side.  We will then walk in the new Little Island Park on Pier 55 after the High Line walk.  When the walk is completed, participants have the option to visit the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center as well as other New York sites decorated for the holidays (e.g., Macy's, F.A.O. Schwarz, St. Patrick's Cathedral, etc.).  Meet at the Vessel, located at 20 Hudson Yards (near subway station "34th Street-Hudson Yards," 7 train, Purple LIne, operating out of Grand Central Station; or via the M34 bus from Penn Station) at 1:00 p.m.  NOTE:  Those wishing to go up inside the Vessel should arrive early and do so on their own prior to our meet-up time.

CT Pride Hikers last did a NYC holiday walk ten years ago, on December 29, 2014.  The group's founder and then leader Rocky organized the "NYC Central Park Stroll."  Our hike is a commemoration of this past event. 

ABOUT THE HIKE:  The plan is to meet at the Vessel (at the ticketing area), and then walk the High Line from the northern access point from Hudson Yard to the southern end (1.45 miles).  At the end of the High Line walk we will cross the highway to Pier 55 to access the Little Island (a.k.a. Floating Island) park along the Hudson.  There is a "pedestrian walkway" in this park, with many photo opportunities for views overlooking the harbor and the city.  Afterwards, we will walk over to Pier 57, where food is available for a snack.  After a brief snack, we will continue to walk Pier 57, including the rooftop for awesome views of the harbor (especially at or near sunset).  At that point participants can decide if they wish to visit the NYC holiday sites.  We plan to walk from Pier 57 to the nearest subway at "14th Street-8 Ave." (blue and gray lines) from which participants can decide to go to Time Square or to Rockefeller Center (to see the Christmas Tree), or return to Grand Central Station. 

FEATURES OF THE HIKE

The High Line is technically a rail-to-trail walk, as it is built on an abandoned elevated rail section of the New York City Railroad's West Side Line.  The walk is 1.45 miles in each direction, and it is said to require 30 minutes to walk each way.  Once dubbed an "eye sore," the elevated structure was slated for demolition by Major Giuliani.  But a non-profit conservancy named "Friends of the High Line" intervened to solicit ideas and donations for the railroad's transformation to a pedestrian walkway, once CSX Transportation ceded ownership to NYC.  The High Line opened to the public in sections (2009, 2014, 2019) and achieved its final form on June 22, 2023. 

The Vessel is a copper-colored, 16-story, 150 foot honeycombed art structure made up of 154 flights of interconnected stairways. It is situated in the Hudson Yards neighborhood.  Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the structure was modeled on the stepwells of Western India.  It opened to the public on March 15, 2019.  But after a spate of suicides from its heights, the Vessel was closed in July 2021 and remained closed for a three-year period during which structural changes were made.  It re-opened in October 2024 with added "safety features" to prevent further "accidents" (steel mesh netting).  It was also made ADA-compliant with ramps and an elevator.  "The Vessel" is only its temporary name; its permanent name is TBD.

The Little Island (a.k.a. Floating Island), which is located along the Hudson River at Pier 55, opened to the public on May 21, 2021, just after the pandemic ended.  It is an artificial island constructed as a "green space" and public park, featuring pedestrian walkways.  It was designed by Thomas Heatherwick, who also designed the Vessel.  The "island" is held up by 132 "concrete tulips" (which some see as the backs of high-heeled shoes).

Pier 57, originally built in 1907 as a terminal for ships, today offers a market hall and public space for gatherings and community events.  New Yorkers come to Pier 57 for a waterfront experience of art, food, culture, and nature.  Like Boston's Quincy Market, there are many kiosks offering a wide variety of food and drink.  The two-acre rooftop is a park with stunning views of lower Manhattan and New York Harbor (and is a great place to watch the sunset, if your visit is timed just right).

PLEASE DRESS APPROPRIATELY FOR WALKING IN NEW YORK CITY IN DECEMBER.  Our Disclaimer still applies, even for an urban excursion. 

Giovani Querido and David Ost

[fcrowley505]

Thanks VERY MUCH, DEAR David and I am very intense on going. Frank 

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[fcrowley505]

I will be going, so I can make at least one hike this calendar year. Hooray. !!

Anyone training from New Haven with me? Thanks 

Frank Crowley 

Sent from my Galaxy

-------- Original message --------

From: David Ostafin <davidb...@gmail.com>

Date: 11/26/24 9:38 AM (GMT-07:00)

To: "CT-pride-hikers@googlegroups com" <CT-prid...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: [CT Pride Hikers] New York City High Line Holiday Walk on December 14, 2024

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