The Civic Center Initiative (originally called the "Commons") was developed to improve the public spaces that includes Civic Center Plaza, United Nations (UN) Plaza, and Fulton Street between the Asian Art Museum and the San Francisco Main Public Library. These spaces play a critical role in our civic life and provide a commons where San Franciscans come together to connect – and unite – around our shared values.

Neighbors, community and cultural organizations, and City agencies are now working together alongside people who frequent these plazas to foster a unified gathering space and make a daily commons experience possible. The Civic Center Commons Initiative (the Initiative) is our collective effort to bring more positive and inclusive activity to the area through interactive art installations and play structures, public space stewardship, new workforce development partnerships, and more frequent activities and events.