Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky donates $100M to San Francisco parks
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Dolores Park is among the 230 parks, playgrounds, and open spaces managed by the city. Photo: Nadia Lopez/Axios
Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky is donating $100 million to the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday.
Why it matters: The donation comes at a critical moment for San Francisco, as the prospect of new AI tech fortunes revives concerns about affordability and how much of that wealth will benefit the broader city.
Driving the news: Chesky and Mayor Daniel Lurie announced the donation Monday, marking the largest private contribution to the city by an individual.
Zoom in: The first $39 million is earmarked for five park projects in Bayview-Hunters Point, SoMa, the Mission, Potrero Hill and downtown, per the Chronicle.
- The funding will fast-track construction of Rachele Sullivan Park, a new half-acre green space with a basketball court, playground, fitness area and shaded seating. The park is now expected to open in late 2028, three years ahead of schedule.
- Pool hours at Garfield Square Park and Recreation Center will be expanded, and Jackson Playground will undergo a full renovation. The donation will also help fund the redesign of Embarcadero Plaza.
By the numbers: The Recreation and Parks Department proposed a roughly $271 million budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, meaning Chesky's $100 million donation would be equivalent to more than a third of its annual spending.
- The donation could provide a significant financial boost to the department, which previously projected a $15 million shortfall.
The big picture: The gift is the latest example of Lurie turning to wealthy donors to help fund city priorities, an approach that has raised questions about the influence of billionaires on local government.
- Lurie has increasingly sought private funding for initiatives addressing homelessness, public safety and the city's economic recovery.
- Chesky, whose company was founded in San Francisco nearly two decades ago, also serves on a council of business leaders advising the mayor on economic issues.
What they're saying: Chesky told the Chronicle he wanted to give back to the city that helped make Airbnb successful and was drawn to parks because they're accessible to everyone.
- "I love this city and I, for a long time, have wanted to give back, and it was really a matter of how to give back," he said.
What's next: City officials will spend the next year deciding how to use the remaining $61 million.