About partners for livable

THE 
HIGHLINE EFFECT: LESSONS FOR PRESERVATION AND
 
 

INTERPRETATION
When New York City decided to reclaim an abandoned, elevated rail corridor on the west side of 
Manhattan and refashion it as a public park, skeptics had plenty of reasons to doubt the success of the 
project. But it didn’t take long for the project to make an enormous splash. Triggering billions of dollars 
of economic activity, and becoming a “Do-Not-Miss” tourist attraction that draws millions of visitors each 
year, the Highline has become one of the most successful urban renewal projects in history.
Clearly, the Highline serves as an important example of what can happen when communities embrace 
historic assets and re-purpose them as amenities for the present. Already, countless cities in the US and 
overseas have launched their own projects that either mimic or blatantly copy New York’s Highline. But 
because every community is different, these copy-cat projects have not led to successful neighborhood 
transformations, or inspired the imagination of local stakeholders to the degree that it did in New York. In 
fact, even in New York City, the Highline risks becoming a victim of its own success. The park is now so 
packed with tourists that locals feel unwelcome, and the neighborhood surrounding the park has seen the 
development of so many high-priced condominiums that long-time residents are being priced-out.
The lesson that Partners draws from the Highline is one of the power of preservation and interpretation. 
The reason that the Highline is now a must-see destination is because the city was able to find a creative 
way to preserve and enhance a decaying amenity. Instead of searching for old railways and bridges that 
look like the ones that have created the Highline in New York City, communities that seek inspiration 
from this project would be wise to assess the amenities in their own backyard that make their city or town 
unique. These could be railroads, but also any number of amenities including markets, unused buildings, 
parks, and many, many others.
The High Line is a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. Photo credit: Stuart Monk.

---

14
•
Cultural Heritage Tourism