Jocelyn P.
Yelp
One of my favorite neighborhood attractions, and a place I love to take visitors to see something special in our city!
It's an old unused rail track owned by the RR company in Canada, not the city. So even though you're trespassing, it feels pretty darn OK in my book. It's kinda like the High Line in NYC, only still abandoned. Of course, there's the official committee who has been getting the funds and the plans together, and our mayor who has vowed to make it a public park by 2014, I believe.
I've been coming up here for the past few years, enjoying the ever-changng scenery as vegetation, tags, access points, and more change from season to season, year to year.
Access point I use (very near my home): Whipple park. Easily hop up the trash can to the fence and on up the hill. Safe, clean, easy.
Fantastic spot to take pictures, so bring a camera!
If you walk westbound toward Central Park Ave you'll hit lots of rocks and old train cars you can climb on. If you walk west to Ashland, you get to see parks, rooftop decks, backyards with hammocks and koi, the blue line, the skyline, and more! So many gorgeous views both ways.
This is a veritable urban hiking path, an is used by joggers.
What I imagine and want it to become as a public park: easy to get onto at multiple spots, good for bicycling, walking, and jogging. Pet and kid-friendly (why not). Vendors selling water, snacks. Possibly bicycle rental spots? Playgrounds, benches, lighting for night, grassy nolls for picnics or boccia ball, etc. Also connection to the YMCA (another easy access point, west of Central Park Ave). Pretty plants all along.
Depending on when you go and in which direction you might see a dozen other folks, or be the only one up there. :) Still very "underground" feeling, in my opinion, even now!!
Go on up, explore! It's a guaranteed way to feel happy. Carpe diem!!