THE NYC HIGH LINE: 5

HIGH (AND ACCESSIBLE) IN THE CITY

By Steve Wright

Section 1 of the High Line is wheelchair-accessible with elevators at West 14th and West 16th Street. The northernmost point of Section 1 is at West 20th Street -- where there is stair access, but no elevator down to the street. Disabled visitors must backtrack (the views of the Empire State Building and rest of Manhattan are worth it) four blocks south to use the West 16th Street. elevator down to the street.

Section 2 of the High Line is under construction and set to open in the spring of 2011. Like the rest of the High Line, the next 10 blocks will be entirely barrier-free with elevator access points at West 23rd Street and West 30th Street.

Section 3 of the High Line contemplates swinging west, almost to the Hudson River, extending north from West 30th Street to West 34th Street. Those four blocks have not yet been secured for park use, but the City Planning Commission voted to approve the City's application to create the option to acquire the additional four blocks of High Line at the West Side Rail Yards. If the area is eventually acquired and refurbished for park use, it too will be 100 percent accessible.

Wright has contributed stories about accessible architecture, urban travel and foreign adventure for more than a decade. Contact the Miami-based writer-photographer at stevewright64@yahoo.com

TOMORROW: Part 6