Lincoln Center , has been in existence since 1977. The center is an office complex for the Special Promotions Department which manages the facility. Lincoln Center was formerly Lincoln School which was built in 1912 and lasted until the 1970's. The center was built and initially also has a huge park adjacent to the facility that has 6 outdoor sand volleyball courts, three basketball courts, a handball court, Frisbee golf course, and an outdoor amphitheater. The park which is located under the famed spaghetti bowl freeway system can have outdoor events going on under the freeway and still not be affected by rainy weather. It is one of the few such built park systems in the southwest.

The staff includes Guadalupe Corral, a clerk/typist who has been at the center for over 25 years. She has a multitude of experience in dealing with a variety of events and is very creative as her office has been spotlighted for her lively decorations. Eliseo Duran, is a recreation specialist and a programmer for many events from Cheerleading Camps to Art in the Park (an outdoor arts and crafts festival) to concerts in the downtown San Jacinto Plaza as well as the 12 days of Christmas Holiday Concert series. He also is in charge of the Lincoln center Teen gallery that has different art work each month by area teenagers and also home to the popular event of the Mayor's Youth Art Showcase

Many department events have originated out of Lincoln center from Midnight Basketball to Flashdance and the Mayor's Youth Art Showcase and the Martin Luther King Humanitarian Awards. Special Promotions has been in charge of the downtown Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony for the past six years and were the driving force to now have the Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Holiday Lights Parade televised live on three different TV stations each year.

Lincoln Center also houses the Aquatics Division to the department and Gus and Goldie the world famous Learn to Swim characters that were developed in 1981 by then Aquatics superintendent, William Cowan and his assistant Gayle Vokes. The center also is home to the Youth Outreach section of the department that does various after school programs for disadvantaged youth in the city.