OUR MISSION

The Railyard Park Conservancy provides community stewardship and advocacy for the horticultural care, educational programming and public art in the Railyard Park + Plaza.

Read our annual Report to the City here, and learn more about the scope of our work in the park in 2023-2024.

OUR STORY

Through a successful public/private partnership with the City of Santa Fe’s Parks Division and the Santa Fe Conservation Trust, the Railyard Park Conservancy (RPC) offers a wide variety of community educational programming, plans and manages public art installations, and provides all the horticultural care for the cultivated gardens and landscapes in the 11-acre Railyard Park.

Founded as the Railyard Stewards, an independent 501 (c ) 3 nonprofit, in September 2010, the organization later changed its name to the Railyard Park Conservancy in April 2016 to reflect its growth in depth and responsibilities. While still operating as a small nonprofit, the name change was meant to bring our operation in line with best practices of successful urban park models, enhancing the overall experience for community members and visitors alike.

The RPC’s mission is to provide community stewardship and advocacy for the care, programming, and public art in the Railyard Park + Plaza. This includes enhanced horticultural care and maintenance of the landscapes, gardens and plants; coordination and management of educational and community-oriented programming; and the recruitment, training and management of all volunteer efforts in the Park. The RPC accomplishes its mission through the generosity of dedicated volunteers and youth-in-service groups that contribute their time and effort to keep the Park healthy, vibrant, and beautiful, in addition to our generous donors and funders. We work hand-in-hand with the City of Santa Fe and elected officials to move the Railyard Park forward into the future to ensure we are able to upgrade amenities, improve access, and provide a safe community gathering place.

OUR HISTORY

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) New Mexico negotiated and acquired the 50-acre Railyard property and conveyed it to the City of Santa Fe in 1995. As part of the conveyance to the City, the TPL worked with community members to create a conservation easement encumbering the 13-acres of the Railyard Park + Plaza. Its purpose is to “assure that the Easement Area will be retained forever as a park, open space, and community gathering place, Rail Line corridor, trail corridor, and plaza area and to prevent any use of the Easement Area that will significantly impair or interfere with the conservation values of the Easement area.”

Fogyard by Charles Streeper

In 2001, TPL entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the City to oversee the design, construction and fundraising for the Railyard Park + Plaza. TPL completed this task in the fall of 2008. TPL held the Conservation Easement with the City of Santa Fe until March 25, 2015, at which time the easement was assigned to the Santa Fe Conservation Trust (SFCT). SFCT is now responsible for assuring that the City Follows the restrictions encumbering the Easement Area.

Since 1999, TPL organized and managed a team of volunteers called the Railyard Advisory Council, who donated thousands of hours towards design decisions, fundraising, and advocacy for the Railyard Park + Plaza. In late 2008, this group transitioned to the Railyard Stewards, later renamed Railyard Park Conservancy. TPL served as the umbrella organization until September 21, 2010 when the Railyard Stewards were awarded IRS nonprofit status and have operated as a registered 501 (c) 3 organization ever since.

AN AWARD WINNING PARK

The Railyard Park Conservancy has received numerous awards and gained national recognition for its efforts to improve, restore, and maintain Santa Fe’s Railyard Park. With the ongoing support of our generous donors, the Conservancy will continue to offer our community award winning programs and projects that improve the quality of life for all Santa Feans and act as an exemplary model for parks and public green spaces. Most recently, the Railyard Park Conservancy has been recognized for 2021’s best park by the Santa Fe Reporter.

Rudy Bruner Silver Award for Urban Excellence (2011)

This prestigious biennial award honors urban places that, through their design and development, have lasting transformative impacts on their urban neighborhoods and communities. The Santa Fe Railyard Redevelopment project unified the Santa Fe community around a vision for mixed use cultural and commercial district, which occupies 52 acres beginning at Montezuma St. and extending to Baca St.

Winners reflect two important themes: The desire for communities to shape the future of their important public spaces and the need for local governments, institutions and citizens to join together to take on the pressing social issues confronting our collective future.

Urban Land Institute – Urban Open Space Finalist (2014)

One of five finalists for the distinguished ULI Open Space Award, the 13-acre Railyard Park + Plaza is the culmination of two decades of community activism that enabled citizens to retain control over the largest downtown development to conserve the open space in perpetuity as a community asset emphasizing local cultures, businesses and artists.

Great Places in America Award – Public Spaces – American Planning Association (2015)

A public space may be a gathering spot or part of a neighborhood, downtown, special district, waterfront or other area within the public realm that helps promote social interaction and a sense of community. Each year, APA recognizes outstanding people, planning work, and places — representing the best in planning and community impact. During the National Community Planning Month each October, they celebrate how planning improves lives and creates communities of lasting value.