A long neglected but majestic bridge connecting Manhattan with the Bronx over the Harlem River has opened to the public as a tremendous pedestrian walkway.

I went up there Sunday afternoon to check it out and was impressed by the thrilling views you get both on approach to the structure and on the path itself.

From the Manhattan side, there are two ways to reach the bridge. You can enter Highbridge Park at 172nd and Amsterdam and follow a curving sidewalk past the swimming pool to an imposing stairwell that goes down three steep flights to near the entry to the bridge. Better yet is the pathway that runs parallel to the river way above the Drive. It goes past popular hoops courts on the lower portion of the park and accesses civilization at 165th Street and Edgecombe.

The bridge has only been open a few days and there’s been some splashy news coverage but it wasn’t crowded when I went during prime time on a gorgeous afternoon. You’re way up high above the river and have great views going both directions of upper Manhattan and the Bronx not to mention all the activity on the river.

There was a near endless rush of jet skiers on the river while I was there. While the bridge’s path is open to bicyclists, it’s dominated by pedestrians which is for the better. This is an experience to be relished at a slow pace on foot and without conflict from two-wheelers.

The most eye-catching feature to me as you walk east to west is the High Bridge Tower (pictured above). You also get a really nice look at Metro North railroad activity on the Bronx side of the river.

This was a city parks project that took forever to come to fruition but it was worth the wait. I suppose it’s likely it could get overrun with visitors as word spreads but it’s just far enough out of the way to perhaps keep it from becoming the kind of madhouse the High Line has become on weekends.

The High Bridge gets you high for sure. Do the stairs approach going in and the sloped path on the way out. Check out the Heights and its great intensity east of Broadway while you’re there too.

The next time I go I’ll come at the bridge from the Bronx side and report back.

Kudos to New York City Parks and the community groups including The High Bridge Coalition who pushed for this to happen. And let it be known that the city will formally celebrate High Bridge’s opening in its current form on July 25 with a festival of fun.