.8 High Bridge Park
High Bridge Park was assembled piecemeal between 1867 and the 1960s, it was named after the High Bridge. Located in the Washington Heights in the “real Upper East Side” of Manhattan, the High Bridge was a place to visit for the rich and poor alike, to walk, to promenade, and to watch races. Currently it is being restored and expected to reopen in winter 2014. The whole park is subject to a Master Plan renovation and is supposed to be labeled as an adventure park in the future. Its size and features, a steep topography, rock outcropping and steep slopes, are ideal sources to do so.
The area, that stretches between Dykman Street in the North down to 155th Street in the South along Fort George, Amsterdam, and Edgecombe Avenues, …show more content…
It addresses many issues this case study has pointed out, including removal of invasive vine and trees, connect the middle level path between north and south, improve entire perimeter appearance, create a neighborhood focus area, a social place as a substitute for the car, and open the sightlines to change the social nature of the park. Hence, if all Master Plan projects are going to be realized, the park has a good chance to highly encourage physical activity of community members. If parking or public transport access allows, people also may be able to “drop by” for a visit in the park. Additionally, the label “adventure park” would make it a unique place in Manhattan and therefore attract visitors. This process may, however, take time.
The High Bridge itself is expected to reopen in winter 2014. However, a NYC parks an recreation employee uttered doubts at the time of the site visit. There previously had been promises to reopen it in 2013. Its renovation would connect the history of the place with new and modern park design. It used to be a place for everybody to come to, it is planned to become this