Mayor Lurie Announces $100 Million Gift to San Francisco Parks from Brian Chesky, Largest-Ever Single-Donor Gift to City

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today announced a groundbreaking $100 million philanthropic commitment to San Francisco’s parks from Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky. The funding—which constitutes the largest-ever single-donor gift to the city—will allow the Recreation and Park Department (RPD) to complete five projects in neighborhoods across the city, including South of Market (SoMa), the Mission, and Bayview-Hunters Point, with additional projects to be identified over the coming year. The new resources will speed up construction timelines, deliver upgrades and programming, and close funding gaps—making new parks available to San Franciscans more quickly and providing broader opportunities to communities across the city.

Today’s investment builds on Mayor Lurie’s work to provide welcoming public spaces and affordable recreation opportunities for families and young people. Earlier this year, the mayor cut the ribbon on a project to create a safer route for people walking, biking, and rolling in Mission Rock after breaking ground on the Twin Peaks Promenade Project. Since the spring, Mayor Lurie has broken ground on the Portsmouth Square Improvement Project in Chinatown, reopened the Tenderloin Recreation Center Children’s Play Area, and opened the newly rebuilt Eugene L. Friend Recreation Center in SoMa. Mayor Lurie is also making San Francisco more welcoming to families under his Family Opportunity Agenda by expanding access to childcare and after-school programming while supporting the construction of new affordable homes.

“San Francisco has nature, parks, beaches, and views that you can’t find anywhere else, with affordable recreation programs where a kid discovers a love of baseball, a teenager finds mentorship, and a working parent knows their children are safe after school,” said Mayor Lurie. “Access to these opportunities shouldn't depend on what neighborhood you live in or how much money your family makes. That’s why I am proud to announce a groundbreaking $100 million gift from Brian Chesky to San Francisco’s parks. With this new funding, we're bringing those opportunities to more neighborhoods across our city, expanding access to recreation, and making our parks even better for the families who use them. To every leader who sees what Brian has done today: Our city is coming back, and you also have an opportunity not to watch from the sidelines but to be part of it.”

“San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and our parks are a big part of what makes it special,” said Chesky. “Since Mayor Lurie took office, we’ve talked about how we can make a meaningful difference for the people who live here. I've always believed in the power of bringing people together, and parks are where a city meets. I’m grateful to Mayor Lurie for his leadership, and proud to support the city we call home.”

Projects will be identified in two phases, with the funding subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors and a recommendation by the Recreation and Park Commission. An initial $39 million will immediately be dedicated to the first five projects, which are listed below. The remaining $61 million will support additional projects to be identified over the next year by RPD. In addition to accelerating projects and closing funding gaps, these resources will support both capital costs and five years of maintenance and programming, allowing time for the city to identify ongoing funding streams.

Rachele Sullivan Park, a half-acre property on 11th Street between Natoma Street and Minna Street, will open three years ahead of the current schedule, as the new funds unlock the city’s ability to start building on the already-purchased land. The new park in western SoMa, an area broadly lacking open space, will bring a half-basketball court, fitness area, children’s play area, and shaded seating to the 11th Street corridor, with plans for a highly visible arts component—now set to open in late 2028, rather than 2031.

At Garfield Square Park and Recreation Center in the Mission, the funding will expand pool hours, adding Sunday service to the popular facility so the site can fully serve the surrounding community. The funds will also support playground resurfacing, enabling new programming that will support kids and families and bring vibrancy to the space. The project is expected to begin in mid-2027 and be completed in 2028.

For India Basin Waterfront Park, a new 10-acre coastal park in Bayview-Hunters Point, this funding will close a gap in the construction project now underway that will add a gravel beach, boat house, adventure playground, and basketball courts to the park and close a gap in the Bay Trail. The funds will also allow for additional maintenance at the site and robust programming guided by years of community engagement. The new park is expected to open in 2028.

In Potrero Hill, Jackson Playground will be fully renovated. The historic clubhouse will be moved, restored, and expanded, joined by a new playground, dog run, multi-use court, open gathering space, and accessibility improvements. Construction is expected to begin in late 2027, with the renovated park opening in 2029.

Downtown’s waterfront will gain a signature public space as the city and partners join the former Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park into a single five-acre waterfront park. The new park will be a more welcoming, accessible space for everyday recreation, neighborhood use, and major civic gatherings. The project is expected to break ground in late 2026 and be completed in 2028.

“This is a game-changing investment in San Francisco’s parks and people. It means long-awaited park projects move forward, more spaces for children and families to play, and stronger, more connected neighborhoods,” said Sarah Madland, RPD General Manager. “We are incredibly grateful to Brian Chesky for helping turn community visions into lasting public benefits for generations to come.”

“San Francisco has great parks, and District 8 has some of the city’s most beloved urban green spaces,” said Board of Supervisors President and District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. “This generous gift will help make an amazing system even better.” 

“This is exciting news for District 10 and our entire city. Jackson Park and India Basin are important community spaces, and these philanthropic investments bring us one major step closer to delivering the parks and recreational amenities our residents deserve,” said District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton. “Public spaces are essential to the health, connection, and quality of life of our neighborhoods. Our community has been advocating for these investments for years, and I can’t wait to see what’s ahead.”

“Public parks are not just patches of green; they are the social, physical, and backbone of our neighborhoods,” said District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar. “This investment is an extraordinary gift to San Francisco families, ensuring that every resident has free access to the health, sanctuary, and community connection they deserve—regardless of their economic background.”

“SoMa has historically been among San Francisco’s most park-deprived neighborhoods, and I couldn’t be more appreciative for the philanthropic generosity that will accelerate the delivery of Rachele Sullivan Park,” said District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey. “This will a game-changer for West SoMa neighbors, and it’s a fitting honor for the late Rachele Sullivan, whose leadership and legacy extend to both the Leather LGBTQ Cultural District and SoMa Pilipinas Cultural District. Thank you, Brian Chesky, for your extraordinary gift and for understanding what parks and recreational facilities mean to the quality of life of San Francisco’s families and residents.”

“This is a transformational gift, which means that more families and children across San Francisco will grow up with better access to open space in every corner of our city,” said District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter. “I cannot wait to see these dollars turned into improvements that will strengthen our city for generations to come. Parks are places where we learn, grow, thrive, and connect, and this legacy from Brian Chesky secures our world-class park system for years to come.”

“Being invested in the community means finding ways to give back to the city we call home,” said District 11 Supervisor Chyanne Chen. “Brian Chesky's gift to the Recreation and Parks Department provides a tremendous opportunity to partner with everyday San Franciscans to fill needed equity gaps in our parks and open space system.”

“Investing in our parks is investing in everyday life in San Francisco,” said District 4 Supervisor Alan Wong. “This funding will help move long-awaited improvements from plans to playgrounds. For residents, that means better facilities, more programming, and projects delivered sooner.”

“I learned to fish at India Basin and went to softball tryouts at Garfield. Those are some of my favorite memories of growing up in San Francisco,” said Joi Jackson-Morgan, CEO of Third Street Youth Center and Clinic. “What makes me hopeful about this investment is how many more families will get to make memories like those, whether it’s a Sunday swim at Garfield or a first trip down to the waterfront in Hunters Point. I want the next generation, wherever they grow up in San Francisco, to look around this city and say, ‘Those are my parks.’”

“Rachele Sullivan Park reflects the intersectionality that makes SoMa so special. Rachele was a Filipina, a leather woman, a person with disabilities, and a healer who embodied our neighborhood’s diversity,” said Cal Callahan, District Manager of LEATHER and LGBT Cultural District. “In a community where open space is scarce, this extraordinary gift brings us closer to realizing a long-awaited park that honors her legacy—a welcoming place where people of all backgrounds and abilities can gather, play, and find respite for generations to come.”

“For over a decade, FoJP has worked with our eastern neighborhood advocates and city partners to bring the community driven Jackson Park renovation project to fruition,” said Jude Deckenbach, Friends of Jackson Park (FoJP) Executive Director. “We are thrilled to be the recipients of this incredible generosity, which will allow the project to be built as designed, serving the ever-growing neighborhood for generations to come.”

“We can’t thank Brian Chesky enough for prioritizing beauty, health and great civic spaces and for adding momentum to San Francisco’s economic recovery downtown and beyond,” said David Stiepleman, Board Chair of the San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation. “We’re thrilled this amazing gift will help get shovels in the ground for the Embarcadero Park project we’ve worked on with our amazing and visionary partners at San Fracisco Rec and Park, Crankstart, BXP, and the Downtown SF Partnership.”