Lincoln Beach redevelopment took a step forward Nov. 30 with the signing of an international design firm to lead master planning efforts.
Parallel plans for a “soft opening” are proceeding, with hopes for limited public access in a little more than a year at the 15-acre wooded enclave along Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans East.
Boston-based Sasaki and Associates Inc. has been contracted to design, plan and complete a full redevelopment of the historically significant site.
No time frame has been set for the project but "well beyond 774 days,” Mayor Cantrell said at the contract signing ceremony, referring to the days remaining in her second term.
Sasaki principal Joshua Brooks said the firm will host “a series of public engagement opportunities” over the next year.
“These types of projects take a long time,” Brooks said.
Officials said an outreach plan overview will be provided in two weeks. Planning will be split into five phases. (NOLA.com 11/30/23) Lincoln Beach contract signed; soft opening eyed for 2025 | Local Politics | nola.com
Background: Lincoln Beach, an amusement park that operated from 1939 -65, was a cherished destination for New Orleans’ African American community during the era of racial segregation. Located along the shore of Lake Pontchartrain, it resided near Little Woods in the Eastern New Orleans section of the Ninth Ward. The park, smaller in scale compared to the “whites only” Pontchartrain Beach, featured rides, games, restaurants, a swimming pool, and live music performances by artists like Fats Domino, Nat King Cole, and The Neville Brothers. However, as the city desegregated Pontchartrain Beach in 1964, Lincoln Beach fell into disrepair and closed the following year.
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