Meet High Bridge—NYC's New Mini-Me of the High Line

"The oldest river crossing in New York City is now the newest. The 1848 High Bridge that spans the Harlem River and links upper Manhattan to The Bronx has recently emerged from a multi-year, $61.8 million renovation. It re-opened to the public on June 9th," reports architect and former Empire State Development Corp VP Carol Berens after paying the High Bridge a visit. She goes on to observe that at present, High Bridge is operating more as a neighborhood amenity than as a regional attraction. She writes: 

...the High Bridge was part of the Croton Aqueduct system that brought fresh water from Westchester County, north of the city to Manhattan. A pedestrian walkway was added above the water pipes not quite 20 years after the bridge’s opening, creating in some people’s eyes the City’s first 'High Line.' At the time, it was a generator of social and economic activity, a focus that attracted people as well as artists and photographers. Hotels and restaurants sprouted up around it. 

High Bridge later fell into disrepair and disuse as roadway projects, public housing projects, and pollution isolated it. While it's too early to tell if High Bridge will be a catalyst for revitalization like the High Line, the efforts of local volunteers and Bette Midler's New York Restoration Project in restoring the neighboring High Bridge Park, as well as talk of opening the adjoining historic water tower to the public, offer hope.