The Buena Yerba Gardens Conservancy

What The Buena Yerba Gardens Conservancy does

The Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) civic nonprofit established in July 2019 to operate, maintain, program, and improve the public open spaces and cultural facilities of Yerba Buena Gardens — a 22-acre downtown San Francisco campus spanning three city blocks between Third, Fourth, Market, and Folsom streets, built atop and around Moscone Convention Center as San Francisco's first rooftop park. The organization manages the Gardens under a 42-year lease from the City and County of San Francisco, with a self-financing model in which surrounding developments are required to contribute to operations and maintenance. Its core "products" are the campus itself: themed gardens (Great Lawn at 340,000 sq ft, Children's Garden at 130,000+ sq ft, butterfly, reflection, sister-cities, and crepe-myrtle gardens), public art installations, the historic 1906 LeRoy King Carousel (operations assumed July 2025), the Ice Arena & Bowling Center, and coordination with on-campus institutional tenants including the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA, since 1993), Children's Creativity Museum, South of Market Child Care (SOMACC), Metreon, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival presenting organization.

The Conservancy generates revenue through a mix of venue and event rentals (Great Lawn up to 5,000 standing, Children's Garden up to 2,000), ticketed attractions (carousel $3 per ride, ice skating and 12-lane bowling), a tiered annual membership program (Bronze $100-$249, Silver $250, Gold $500), memorial bench ($5,000/5-year) and tree ($10,000/5-year) programs, free public WiFi and walking tour programming, and supporting development contributions. It delivers over 100 free cultural events annually, serves 5M+ visitors per year, and supports the SOMACC program reaching ~130 children and ~500 families annually. Distribution is almost entirely physical and community-led: walk-up access (gardens open 6AM-10PM daily), event booking through the Festival, on-site ticketing, and emerging transit-driven access via the new Yerba Buena/Moscone BART/Muni station. Technology infrastructure is limited to public WiFi, weather and air-quality monitoring, and standard informational websites — no APIs, SDKs, or AI capabilities are offered.

Name

The Buena Yerba Gardens Conservancy

Legal name

Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy

Website

https://yerbabuenagardens.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy is a San Francisco 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating, maintaining, and programming the 22-acre Yerba Buena Gardens rooftop park and its cultural facilities under a 42-year city lease, serving 5M+ annual visitors through free public programming and fee-based attractions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Venue Rentals and Event Permits: The Conservancy generates revenue through renting out venues for corporate events, weddings, photo/film shoots, and private gatherings. Yerba Buena Gardens Festival serves as the exclusive rental agent, with fees supporting landscaping, maintenance, and free public programming.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership program with three tiers (Gold $500, Silver $250, Bronze $100-$249) offering recognition benefits and event discounts. Supports restoration and improvement of aging infrastructure.
3. Memorial Bench and Tree Program: Time-restricted memorial programs offering bench placements ($5,000 for 5 years) and tree dedications ($10,000 for 5 years) with customizable plaques, generating revenue for campus beautification.
4. Carousel Operations: The historic LeRoy King Carousel generates ticket revenue at $3.00 per person, with children 2 and under riding free. The Conservatory assumed direct operations in July 2025 with expanded hours.
5. Ice Arena and Bowling Center: Year-round ice skating and bowling facilities operated as part of the campus, generating revenue through public sessions, skating school, hockey programs, and lane rentals.
6. Self-Financing Model: The Gardens operates as a self-financing entity where surrounding developments are required to financially support its operation and maintenance, creating a sustainable financial model independent of traditional government funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) civic nonprofit organization that operates, maintains, programs, and improves Yerba Buena Gardens, a 22-acre urban park and cultural campus built atop Moscone Convention Center in downtown San Francisco. It manages the public gardens, public art collection, recreational facilities (LeRoy King Carousel, Ice Arena & Bowling Center), venue rentals, free cultural programming (Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, Speaker Series), walking tours, and community engagement programs serving over 5 million annual visitors.

Product overview

Yerba Buena Gardens is a 22-acre urban park complex and cultural destination in downtown San Francisco managed by the Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy under a long-term lease from the City and County of San Francisco. The Gardens operates as a platform of multiple attractions and venues rather than a single product, encompassing themed gardens (Great Lawn, Children's Garden, Butterfly Garden, Reflection Garden), public art installations, children's facilities (Children's Creativity Museum, SOMACC childcare, carousel, playgrounds), recreation (Ice Arena & Bowling Center), performing arts (Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, YBCA), event venues, and supporting amenities. With over 5 million annual visitors, the Gardens functions as San Francisco's first rooftop park built atop Moscone Center, offering free public admission with fee-based individual attractions. The Conservancy supports operations through venue rentals, memberships, donations, and public-private financing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Yerba Buena Gardens A 22-acre urban park and garden complex featuring themed gardens including the Great Lawn (5+ acres), Children's Garden (130,000+ sq ft), Cho-En Butterfly Garden, Reflection Garden, Sister Cities Garden, and Crepe Myrtle Garden; San Francisco's first rooftop park, built atop and around Moscone Center.
• Public Art Program An extensive collection of public art installations featuring works by Sarah Sze, Keith Haring, Leo Villareal, and others, including a free audio tour and guided walking tours.
• Children's Creativity Museum A community-based art and technology museum for youth and families offering interactive experiences using art, media, and technology tools to foster creativity.
• Ice Arena & Bowling Center A year-round indoor ice skating and bowling facility featuring public skating sessions, skating school, youth/adult hockey programs, and a 12-lane bowling center.
• LeRoy King Carousel A historic carousel built in 1906 by Charles Looff, renamed LeRoy King Carousel in 2014; tickets $3.00 per person, children 2 and under ride free, Wednesdays through Sundays.
• Yerba Buena Gardens Festival An independent nonprofit presenting organization offering admission-free artistic, community, and cultural programs including music, dance, theater, and children's programs; over 100 free outdoor events annually.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial The third largest MLK memorial in the United States, featuring a waterfall, glass panels inscribed with Dr. King's words, poems, and civil rights imagery.
• Walking Tours Free guided walking tours covering the 22-acre campus including Gardens history, financial model, art collections, facilities, and future plans.
• Event Venue Rentals Rental venue options for corporate events, private picnics, large parties, weddings, and film/photo shoots including the Great Lawn (340,000 sq ft, capacity 5,000 standing), Children's Garden (85,000 sq ft), Terrace, East Garden, Carousel Plaza, and Jessie Square.
• Membership Program Annual membership tiers: Gold ($500/year) with annual report recognition and special event invites; Silver ($250/year) with report recognition and event discounts; Bronze ($100-$249/year) with group recognition and discounts.
• Memorial Bench and Tree Program A commemorative program offering benches ($5,000 for 5 years) and memorial trees ($10,000 for 5 years) at strategic campus locations, with personalized plaques and renewal options.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5+ million visitors annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SFMTA (San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 January 2023Partnership for the 'Celebration Gateways' project transforming barren walls at 4th Street with murals by Bay Area artists Dee Jae Pa'este and Mel Vera Cruz. SFMTA submitted the Caltrans Clean California grant application on behalf of the Conservancy. Project beautifies the area around the new Yerba Buena/Moscone transit station.
• Caltrans Clean CaliforniacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 April 2022Caltrans awarded $1.8 million grant to Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy for cleaning and beautification of public space near Yerba Buena/Moscone Center Station. With matching funds, total project funding reached $3.6 million. Project includes drought-tolerant landscaping along 3rd and 4th streets, two artist-led community murals, and enhanced cleaning programs through the Yerba Buena Community Benefit District's Clean Team.
• South of Market Child Care (SOMACC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOMACC is Yerba Buena Garden's child development center founded in 1970. Offers full-time infant and toddler care and Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool. SOMACC serves nearly 130 children annually and approximately 500 families at its family support resource center. Conservancy partners with SOMACC for annual donation drives.
• Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYBCA is a multidisciplinary arts center located within Yerba Buena Gardens since 1993. Features galleries, Forum space, and 757-seat Blue Shield of California Theater. YBCA curates art programming including the Lawn Art Project and coordinates with the Conservancy on public art installations like Double Horizon workshops.
• Children & Nature NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYerba Buena Gardens Conservancy joined the Children & Nature Network, supporting the program's ideals to get children out in nature. Aligns with the Gardens' mission to provide accessible green space and nature experiences for youth.
• Reimagining SFminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Conservancy joined Reimagining SF, an alliance working collectively to improve ecological health of San Francisco and equitably distribute benefits of local nature to all residents.
• NAM (National Association of Metropolitan Health Organizations) Climate and Health MovementminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConservancy joined the NAM climate and health movement, demonstrating commitment to environmental sustainability and public health initiatives.
• Yerba Buena Community Benefit District (YBCBD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYBCBD works to improve quality of life in the Yerba Buena neighborhood through programs including Community Guides, graffiti removal, street cleaning, neighborhood marketing, and public art projects. Their Clean Team doubles cleaning frequency in the area surrounding the Gardens.
• Skating Club of San FranciscominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Skating Club of San Francisco hosts annual gala events at Yerba Buena Ice Skating Center, attracting world-class skating talent including Olympic champions. Club honors community figures and supports youth skating programs.
• South of Market Family Resource CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConservancy partners with SOMACC and the South of Market Family Resource Center for annual donation drives, collecting non-perishable cans, diapers, and baby formula for families in need.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Friends of the High Line: Nonprofit conservancy responsible for operating, maintaining, and programming the High Line elevated park in NYC. Comparable in operating an elevated urban park with public art, free public programming, and a donor/membership-supported financial model.
• Central Park Conservancy: The largest U.S. urban park conservancy, managing and restoring Central Park in partnership with NYC. While much larger, it shares the same public-private operating model, lease/management agreement structure, and reliance on private donations and event revenue.
• Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy: Nonprofit conservancy that works with the City of Pittsburgh to restore and operate urban parks. Comparable mission, public-private partnership structure, and reliance on grants/donations/event revenue.
• Bryant Park Corporation: Manages Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan under a public-private partnership with the City of New York. Closest comparable: large downtown urban park with diverse paid attractions (carousel, ice rink, holiday markets), event rentals, and a self-financing model—essentially the reference operating model for YBGC.
• Madison Square Park Conservancy: Conservancy that operates a 6.2-acre downtown urban park in NYC, funding operations through a combination of concessions, events, and private donations. Directly comparable in scale, governance structure, and revenue mix.
• Prospect Park Alliance: Nonprofit conservancy that operates Prospect Park in Brooklyn in partnership with NYC Parks. Comparable city-managed park with nonprofit operating partner, free public programming, and mixed-use facilities (ice rink, carousel, etc.).
• The Battery Conservancy: NYC nonprofit conservancy operating Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan. Similar public-private partnership model with public art, free programming, and event venue rentals.

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that creates and protects urban parks, including funding park development and operating advocacy. Broadly comparable as a park-focused nonprofit but operates at a national scale rather than as a single-park operator.

Emerging players

• Pier 24 Photography: San Francisco nonprofit photography exhibition space on the Embarcadero. Comparable as a SF nonprofit cultural destination with free public access, but is a single-art-form venue rather than a multi-use park.

Others

• Tishman Speyer (Hudson Yards): Real estate developer of Hudson Yards, which includes integrated public spaces, observation deck, and cultural venues. Indirectly comparable as an example of large-scale, mixed-use downtown development that integrates public open space with cultural and commercial attractions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yerba-buena-gardens-conservancy
• Instagraminstagram.com/ybgardens

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Buena Yerba Gardens Conservancy