Partners in the Railyard Park
The Stewards work collaboratively with many partners for the care and community events in the Railyard Park + Plaza.
The City of Santa Fe: The City of Santa Fe is a longtime partner in the Railyard. As a public park and open space, the Railyard Park + Plaza receives maintenance and care by City staff working in coordination with the Railyard Stewards. We are honored to be a partner of the City of Santa Fe to ensure a vibrant Railyard Park + Plaza.
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) New Mexico: TPL has a long history and commitment to the Railyard Park + Plaza. In 1995, TPL negotiated and acquired the 50-acre Railyard property and conveyed it to the City of Santa Fe. As part of the conveyance to the city, worked with community members to create a conservation easement encumbering 12.5 acres of the Railyard. Its purpose is ”to assure that the Easement Area will be retained forever as a park, open space, 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.” TPL currently holds the conservation easement and is responsible for assuring that the city follows the restrictions encumbering the Easement Area. In 2001, TPL entered into an MOA with the city to oversee the design, construction and fundraising for the Railyard Park and Plaza. TPL completed this task in fall of 2008, raising $14 million. Since 1999, TPL has hosted/managed a dynamic team of volunteers called the Railyard Advisory Council, who donated thousands of hours towards design decisions, fundraising and advocacy for the public spaces at the Railyard. In late 2008, this group morphed into the current Railyard Stewards board. TPL is currently the 501 C(3) umbrella organization to the Railyard Stewards.
The Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation (SFRCC): SFRCC’s Mission is to transform the historic Railyard into a sustainable and inviting public space for recreational, social, artistic, and commercial activities in a way that embraces Santa Fe’s cultural and historical significance and upholds the community’s vision. SFRCC is a non-profit organization responsible for the implementation of that Railyard Master Plan and has worked closely with The Trust for Public Land and other partners to develop this community asset with the support of the City of Santa Fe, the State of New Mexico, and the Governor’s Economic Development Initiative. SFRCC provides the event permitting for the Railyard Park + Plaza, manages Railyard leases, and provides marketing for the Railyard.
The People of Santa Fe: The Railyard Park + Plaza represent the dreams and spirited grassroots involvement of the people of Santa Fe. Supported by The Trust for Public Land, thousands of residents engaged in an unprecedented planning process to transform the city’s historic Railyard into a vibrant, multiuse public space devoted to cultural diversity and environmental sustainability. Their advocacy in reimagining this landscape will be enjoyed for generations to come.
Santa Fe Community Gardens (SFCG): SFCG is a local non-profit that promotes local gardening and food growing by offering Santa Fe County residents garden space, resources, and education and by facilitating community partnerships.
¡YouthWorks!: partners with the Railyard Stewards to provide hands-on care of the Railyard Park + Plaza. ¡YouthWorks! is a nonprofit organization, formed in 2001 to serve disadvantaged and at-risk youth in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico. They specialize in a full spectrum of culturally appropriate programs that assist high-risk youth—predominantly Hispanic and Native American—to develop job skill training, build educational skills, and develop healthy attitudes and behaviors necessary to assure a successful future.
Local Schools participate in lively environmental education at the Railyard Park, providing students with hands-on learning that meets state education requirements. For example, Alvord Elementary students design and plant a food garden at the Railyard. Students and youth also participate in service-learning projects to care for their space and their community.
