Oakland breaks ground on new Lincoln Recreation Center & emergency hub

Published on July 30, 2026

The recreation center also provides essential services during emergencies, major disruptions

Download more renderings and view a recording of the event.

OAKLAND, Calif. – Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, City leaders, community members and project partners celebrated today the groundbreaking of the new Lincoln Square Recreation Center, a transformational investment in one of Oakland's most historic and busiest neighborhood parks.

Located in the heart of Oakland Chinatown, the project will replace the existing recreation center with a new two-story, approximately 22,000-square-foot facility. The facility will feature community gathering spaces, multi-purpose classrooms, a gymnasium, offices, a rooftop garden and enhanced amenities to Lincoln Square Park where the center will be built.

This project will also establish the City of Oakland's first resilience hub, providing critical resources before, during and after emergencies. During normal operations, the center will offer expanded recreation programs, community events, gathering spaces, and emergency-preparedness programs. During emergencies, the facility can be activated to provide clean air during wildfires, air conditioning during heatwaves, backup power, charging stations, refrigeration for medications and a place for residents to access emergency information.

Beyond the building, the project transforms the surrounding park by expanding the tree canopy, renewing paved basketball courts and introducing shaded courtyards that create welcoming places for reflection, gathering and respite.

"Today is an important day for Oakland, as we celebrate a vision that generations of Chinatown residents have championed," said Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. "The new Lincoln Recreation Center will be a place for our youth to learn, families to gather, older adults to stay active and neighbors to find support during times of need. The City’s investment reflects our commitment to building stronger, healthier and more resilient communities across the Town."

In partnership with Friends of Lincoln Square Park and Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), the project is the culmination of community advocacy and planning to expand recreational activities in Chinatown. The existing facility, built in the late 1970s, no longer meets the demand for programs and services in the area. Funding for the project includes support from local, state and federal sources including Proposition 68, community resilience grants, Measure KK, Measure U, federal funding and contributions from the community.

The City of Oakland contracted with Shah Kawasaki Architects and Amoroso Construction to deliver the project. Construction is expected to be completed by Summer of 2028. The City plans to keep park programming going at temporary locations in the neighborhood throughout the construction phase.

Additional quotes

“I am excited to celebrate the groundbreaking for the NEW Lincoln Square Recreation and Resiliency Center in the heart of Oakland’s Chinatown. As we experience the devastating effects of climate change, this will be a safe hub for our Oakland Chinatown elders, children, and families,” said Congresswoman Lateefah Simon. “I want to thank Mayor Barbara Lee, Senator Alex Padilla, the Friends of Lincoln Square Park and so many trusted leaders who made this a reality. Asian American history is AMERICAN history, and as a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I will continue to advocate for our Asian diaspora communities in Congress.” 

“After decades of community advocacy, and the Lincoln Recreation Center falling into significant disrepair, we are finally making the investment Chinatown has long deserved,” said Charlene Wang, Oakland District 2 Councilmember. “This is a disadvantaged community with nearly 80 percent of Lincoln students qualifying for free and reduced lunch. As Oakland's first resilience hub, Lincoln will be the city's frontline of disaster preparedness and a place the community can enjoy every day."

“Lincoln Park has long served as a place of belonging where memories and friends are made through play. Our new larger center will continue the legacy of our beloved park as Chinatown’s central gathering place,” said Tiffany Eng, co-founder of Friends of Lincoln Square Park. “We are grateful for the City, our community partners and funders that have supported our community vision and we hope the construction moves quickly towards completion without delay.”

"For years, Chinatown residents — many of them elders living in older, heat and pollution trapping buildings — have organized for a space that keeps our community safe when extreme heat and wildfire smoke hit hardest,” said Shina Robinson, Resilience Projects Director with APEN. “This resilience hub is proof that the strongest solutions come from the leadership of frontline communities. It's a place our neighbors can turn to, created by the people who know this neighborhood best."

"This groundbreaking represents years of planning, partnership and dedication from community members, City staff and funding partners," said Liam Garland, Director of Oakland Public Works. "We are proud to deliver a facility that will not only expand recreation opportunities but also strengthen Oakland's ability to prepare for and respond to emergencies. This project demonstrates how public infrastructure can improve quality of life while building resilience for the future."

“Today’s groundbreaking is an investment in the future of our community. The new Lincoln Recreation Center will provide a welcoming space where youth, families and neighbors can connect, grow and thrive for generations to come,” said Myka Hammock, Director of Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development (OPRYD).

For more information, visit the City of Oakland’s Lincoln Square Recreation Center project page.