NEW YORK, Jun 7, 2009 / FW/ — In New York, we always think of the subway system and never an elevated one. But on June 15th, Calvin Klein Collection, in its continuous effort in supporting its home city is hosting the ‘First Party on the High Line’ in honor of the opening of New York City’s historic new park.
For those not familiar with the project, the High Line is an abandoned 1.45 mile (2.33 km) section of the former elevated freight railroad of the West Side Line, along the lower west side of New York City borough of Manhattan between 34th Street near the Javits Convention Center and Gansevoort Street in the West Village.
The High Line was built in the early 1930s by the New York Central and has been unused since 1980. It is in a state of disrepair, although the elevated structure is basically sound. Wild grass and plants grow along most of the route.
The community-based group Friends of the High Line was established by neighborhood residents Robert Hammond and Joshua David, leading to plans to turn the High Line into an elevated park or greenway, similar to the Promenade Plantée in Paris. In 2004, the New York City government committed $50 million to establish the proposed park.
Five years had passed since then and on Monday, Jun 15, 2009, as part of the Friends of High Line’s opening summer benefit, Calvin Klein Collection will present the “First Party on the High Line,” which will take place on the largest covered section of the elevated railway, located within the first section of the High Line of the public promenade (Gansevoort Street to 20th Street) to open in June 2009.
This will be the first major event on the High Line after its official public opening. Proceeds from this event will support the maintenance and operations of the new High Line landscape.
For the evening, Calvin Klein Collection will create a one-of-a-kind experience that showcases the transformative design of the High Line and further build upon the brands’ on-going partnership with Friends of the High Line. In September 2008, Calvin Klein, Inc. announced a partnership with Friends of the High Line when the company celebrated its 40th anniversary with a star-studded event on the not yet constructed grounds of the historic future park.
“First Party on the High Line” will take place directly following the Friends of the High Line opening summer benefit gala dinner, honoring Lisa Maria and Philip Falcone, and Edward Norton at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers.
A cross-section of some of the city’s most influential people, including the honorees and nominees from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Award ceremony, being held the same night – including Italo Zucchelli, Calvin Klein Collection’s Men’s Creative Director, who is nominated for the 2009 CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year Award – are expected in attendance.
To purchase tickets or tables for the gala dinner – which includes an invitation to “First Party on The High Line” – visit www.thehighline.org
All funds raised at the dinner will benefit Friends of the High Line, the non-profit conservancy organization working with the City of New York to transform the High Line elevated rail structure into public open space.
The High Line extends for 22 blocks along the West Side of Manhattan, from West 34th Street to Gansevoort Street, in the Meatpacking District. Through the impressive efforts of the City of New York, and the non-profit organization, Friends of the High Line, this space is being transformed into a one-of-a-kind, 6.7 acre, grand, public promenade that can be freely enjoyed by all residents and visitors in New York City.
The High Line is a public park, owned by New York City, and under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks & Recreation. For more information, visit www.thehighline.org
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