FRIENDS OF THE HIGH LINE INC

PROGRAMMING, ART, & EDUCATION:IN 2024, HIGH LINE ART EXHIBITED THE WORK OF OVER 40 ARTISTS IN THE PARK, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, 5 SCULPTURE COMMISSIONS, 6 VIDEO EXHIBITIONS (INCLUDING 1 ORIGINAL VIDEO COMMISSION), 2 PERFORMANCE COMMISSIONS, 1 MURAL, 5 BILLBOARDS, AN EXHIBITION OF 12 PLINTH MAQUETTES, AND THE PRESENTATION OF THE FOURTH MONUMENTAL HIGH LINE PLINTH COMMISSION. IN ADDITION, HIGH LINE ART UNVEILED ITS SECOND BOOK, PUBLISHED BY MONACELLI/PHAIDON. THE TEAM PRESENTED 8 PUBLIC PROGRAMS OVER THE YEAR, AND ALSO PRESENTED THE SECOND "ART OFF LINE" COMMISSION IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ANDREW HEISKELL BRAILLE & TALKING BOOK LIBRARY, PART OF THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE HIGH LINE NETWORK HOSTED A COMMUNITY-CENTERED INFRASTRUCTURE REUSE SYMPOSIUM TITLED "ROOTED" IN DETROIT FOR OVER 250 ATTENDEES IN FALL OF 2024 AS WELL AS A POLICY LAB CONVENING TO FOCUS ON EARNED REVENUE IN MEXICO CITY IN FEBRUARY OF 2024. CAPITALIZING ON THE SUCCESS OF THE PRIOR YEARS' POLICY LAB EVENTS LED TO A COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE ORGANIZING ANNUAL POLICY LABS TO BEST SERVE THE NETWORK, AND PLANNING FOR THE FALL 2025 POLICY LAB TO BE HELD IN NYC BEGAN. A PUBLICATION "INSPIRATION FROM THE FIELD" FOCUSING ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CASE STUDIES FROM 13 NETWORK MEMBERS WAS DRAFTED, AND PLANNING FOR AN IN-PERSON TRAINING BASED ON THE HIGH LINE NETWORK'S COMMUNITY FIRST TOOLKIT IN MID 2025 ALSO COMMENCED.FHL'S YOUTH DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO BE A CORE PART OF FHL PROGRAMMING. THROUGH ITS TEEN EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, FHL PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT CONSISTING OF TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR 35 TEENAGERS WHO EITHER LIVE OR GO TO SCHOOL IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD. FHL TEENS ARE STAFF AT THE HIGH LINE AND WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING OUR ANNUAL TEEN NIGHT CELEBRATION. ADDITIONALLY, THEY SUPPORTED OUR LOCAL CITY COUNCILPERSON IN PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING EFFORTS, COMMUNICATING THE PB PROJECTS TO THE PUBLIC AND GATHERING VOTES IN THE DISTRICT.FHL SCHOOLS PROGRAM WORKED IN 4 LOCAL SCHOOLS, AND ONE SCHOOL IN THE BRONX, TO OFFER ENGAGING AND INNOVATIVE CLASSES IN THE AREAS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, ARCHITECTURE AND MATHEMATICS (STEAM). CURRICULUM WAS CREATED IN COLLABORATION WITH PARTNER CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND OUR TEACHING ARTISTS TO MAINTAIN EDUCATIONAL RIGOR AND, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, TO OFFER SCIENCE, ART, OR ELECTIVE HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS TO STUDENTS TO SUPPORT THEM ON THEIR PATH TO GRADUATION. SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS PROVIDED OVER 200 DIRECT SERVICE HOURS TO STUDENTS AND EMPLOYED 5 TEACHING ARTISTS AND 8 TEEN TEACHING ASSISTANTS, WHO MAINTAINED THEIR OWN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN A VARIETY OF ART DISCIPLINES. IN THE SUMMER OF 2024, FHL HOSTED A SERIES OF 8 FAMILY WORKSHOPS ON THE PARK FOR FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FEATURING HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES CENTERING ON THE THEMES OF NATIVE PLANTS, HORTICULTURE, ARTS, WHILE ALSO INTEGRATING CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS LIKE HALLOWEEN. THEY ARE DESIGNED AND STAFFED BY TEACHING ARTISTS AND HIGH LINE TEEN STAFF, SERVING AS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUTH.THE HIGH LINE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT WORKS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION TO BUILD ON THE HIGH LINE'S CIVIC ROOTS AND UNIQUE ROLE AS A NEIGHBORHOOD ANCHOR AND DESTINATION FOR NEW YORKERS FROM ALL FIVE BOROUGHS. WE FOSTER NEW AND EXISTING CONNECTIONS WITH THE CITY'S MANY COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED, TO MORE EFFECTIVELY MEET THEIR NEEDS, LIVE UP TO OUR VALUES, AND CREATE A PEOPLE-CENTERED AND EQUITABLE PUBLIC SPACE. PROGRAMMATIC INITIATIVES IN 2024 INCLUDED CONTINUING THE HIGH LINE NEIGHBORS COUNCIL, AN ADVISORY GROUP OF 18 COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO MET MONTHLY, AND COMPLETING THE FOURTH ITERATION OF THE NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR FUND PARTICIPATORY GRANTMAKING INITIATIVE. PUBLIC PROGRAMMING ORGANIZED BY THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT INCLUDED 13 WELLNESS CLASSES TARGETING THE NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS, AN ARRIBA LATIN DANCE NIGHT EVENT, A STORYTELLING PRIDE EVENT HIGHLIGHTING VOICES FROM ACROSS THE LGBTQIA+ SPECTRUM, AND MORE. FHL ALSO WORKED WITH 159 VOLUNTEERS WHO WORKED A TOTAL OF 4,995 HOURS AS DOCENTS, GREETERS, HORTICULTURAL ASSISTANTS, AND AMBASSADORS.

HIGH LINE PLANNING, CONSTRUCTION AND CAPITAL REPAIRS:IN 2024, FRIENDS OF THE HIGH LINE ADVANCED SEVERAL CRITICAL CAPITAL INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON IMPROVING ACCESS, SAFETY, AND THE OVERALL VISITOR EXPERIENCE. THIS INCLUDED MAJOR PROGRESS ON ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, NEW PROJECT PLANNING, AND COMPLETION OF SMALLER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS THE HIGH LINE.CONSTRUCTION ON THE 18TH STREET PLAZA WAS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED, WITH THE NEW STREET-LEVEL PLAZAFEATURING A STAIRCASE TO THE HIGH LINE, SEATING, A LARGE PLANTING BED, AND A PROMINENT ART BILLBOARDSCHEDULED TO OPEN IN JULY 2025. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION OF A SOLE SOURCE CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT IN 2023, WE FINALIZED KEY PROCUREMENT DOCUMENTS AND ISSUED AN RFP FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF 10TH AVENUE SQUARE. A COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS LED TO THE AWARD OF A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO ALPINE CONSTRUCTION & LANDSCAPING CORP. IN JUNE 2024. CONSTRUCTION BROKE GROUND IN JULY AND IS ON TRACK FOR SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION BY OCTOBER 2025.DESIGN DEVELOPMENT CONTINUED FOR THE WESTERN RAIL YARDS RECONSTRUCTION AT THE NORTHERN END OF THE PARK. THIS PROJECT WILL REPLACE A BONDED AGGREGATE PATHWAY WITH CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE, UPGRADE SEATING ELEMENTS, AND ESTABLISH A NEW GARDEN ENTRANCE AT 34TH STREET DESIGNED BY PIET OUDOLF. WE EXPECT TO ISSUE AN RFP IN AUGUST 2025 AND BEGIN CONSTRUCTION BY NOVEMBER, WITH COMPLETION ANTICIPATED BY JULY 2026.WORK ALSO BEGAN ON THE DESIGN OF AN ACCESSIBILITY-FOCUSED RECONSTRUCTION OF THE 16TH STREET STAIR AND ELEVATOR, ADDRESSING LONG-STANDING OPERATIONAL AND VISITOR EXPERIENCE CHALLENGES. DESIGN IS EXPECTED TO CONCLUDE IN SEPTEMBER 2025, WITH CONSTRUCTION COMMENCING IN EARLY 2026.IN CONNECTION WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE GANSEVOORT MARKET SITE, WE INITIATED PLANNING STUDIES TO EXPLORE AN EXPANSION OF THE HIGH LINE'S MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS FACILITIES. THIS WORK WILL CONTINUE INTO 2025 AND 2026.ADDITIONAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ACROSS THE PARK ALSO PROGRESSED IN 2024, WITH PLANNING AND DESIGN EFFORTS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION.