The popular High Line re-opens on Thursday, July 16, 2020 with new rules including FREE timed entry for social distancing, new operating hours, and requirements that all visitors walk in the same direction, south to north.
Narrow paths and stairway entrances forced the park to close in March 2020.
It is one of NYC’s most popular parks, welcoming more than eight million visitors annually, and its re-opening is a welcome treat.
So here are the new rules:
New hours are Noon to 8pm daily.
Governors Island opens for the 2020 season on Wed., July 15, also with new social distancing policies and ferry reservations.
How to Make High Line Reservations
The first set of reservations will be available for time slots on Thursday, July 16, through Sunday, July 26, from Noon to 8pm.
After that, reservations will be opened every two weeks on Mondays, starting July 20, for an additional two weeks.
A limited number of walk-up passes will be available at the entrance, but to reduce wait time, please sign up for a free timed-entry pass in advance.
When you visit the High Line, please support neighborhood businesses, including restaurants.
The simplest way to enter and minimize your wait is to reserve a free timed-entry pass at thehighline.org/welcome.
NYCOTC Tip -
Make a reservation for late evening, to enjoy the sunset across the Hudson River, then have dinner at one of the restaurants nearby.
See our outdoor dining and drinking etiquette guide
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Where to Enter and Leave the High Line
Traffic flows only in one direction - north - starting at Gansevoort Street
All visitors must enter at the southern end of the High Line, at Gansevoort Street and Washington Street, and move northwards.
The one-directional movement is essential for social distancing on narrow paths and stairs.
In this first reopening phase, the High Line will be open to 23rd Street only.
Stairs at 14th, 16th, 17th, 20th, and 23rd Streets will be exit-only (as will elevators at 14th and 23rd Streets, except for people with mobility access needs; the 16th Street elevator is currently unavailable.)
All access points north of 23rd Street will be closed.
If you try to enter at these locations, signage will direct you to the Gansevoort Street entry.
NYCOTC will keep you posted on reopening plans for north of 23rd Street.
Also, read this Washington Post article on the current and future High Line.
Safety Guidelines
The same safety protocols necessary for the reopening of any public place apply to the High Line.
- Wear a mask or face covering.
- Maintain 6-foot distance between people not in the same household.
- If you are sick, stay home.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes.
- Do not touch your face.
Limited Amenities
- Food vendors and the High Line Shop will be closed.
Statement by High Line
Our city, nation, and world have fundamentally changed since the pandemic began. So have we—and so have the High Line’s gardens, which have been growing unchecked while our gardeners were working remotely, much like the original self-sown landscape we discovered years ago. When you reenter, you will find a wilder, lusher, more exuberant landscape, reminding us of the power of nature to reclaim even the mightiest of industrial structures.
And while we’ve always been pleased that out-of-town visitors put the High Line on their lists of must-sees, New York has fewer tourists right now.
The High Line will feel more like the place we originally dreamed of: a retreat where our neighbors and fellow New Yorkers come together in one of the world’s most inspirational landscapes.
Special thanks to Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, and our partners at NYC Parks for working with us throughout this process. We’d also like to thank our representatives for their outstanding leadership in the city, state, and country throughout this time. A huge thank you to Community Boards 2 and 4, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, State Assembly Members Richard Gottfried and Deborah Glick, State Senator Brad Hoylman, Governor Andrew Cuomo, U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler, and U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
What do you think about this? We welcome your comments.