Sound Commons Maintenance and Stewardship

Through the Civic Center Commons Initiative, Sounds Commons is staffed 7 days a week from 8am to 7pm by the non-profit organization Hunters Point Family whose work-experience program employs at-risk youth and adults. Their staff maintains the installations on a daily basis, ensuring that they’re safe, clean and welcoming to families and children. The Tenderloin, the neighborhood adjacent to Sound Commons, has the highest density of children in the City. The staff also serve as “docents” (known by Exploratorium patrons as “explainers”), which means they’re on-site to answer questions about the project and share tips and tricks for interacting with the different installations. Given the public health challenges in this area, the Hunters Point Family staff is equipped with information for individuals who may be in need of public health resources. 

Supplemental cleaning services are provided through the Downtown Streets Team, a privately-funded program that engages unhoused individuals in the maintenance of public spaces while assisting them with long-term employment opportunities and housing.