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Lincoln Beach,
located on the south shore of Lake
Pontchartrain in New Orleans, served as an
amusement park for Black citizens during
the period of segregation, 1955-1964.
After being closed for over 30 years, the
site had experienced considerable
deterioration. As a result of interest
from local neighborhood civic
associations, the Board of Commissioners
of the Orleans Levee District, the owner
of the site, determined that a full
evaluation of the site's potential and
Master Plan were needed to determine the
future use of the property.
The Orleans Levee
District commissioned BKI to conduct an
evaluation of the existing physical,
structural and environmental conditions at
the Lincoln Beach site on Lake
Pontchartrain and to recommend a plan for
improvements for safe public access to the
site and lake waters.
BKI created a Master
Plan for passive recreational use of the
17-acre waterfront site incorporating the
site's history as an amusement park and
swimming beach. The design theme used
icons and patterns from the amusement park
heritage, selective architectural
restoration and an entertainment plaza
overlooking the beach. The plaza had an
amusement park ride theme with interactive
fountains, paving murals and stage. The
midway was retained for access with
displays of Lincoln Beach's history
anchoring each end. BKI's Master Plan
emphasized restoration of the sand beach,
with new a concessions building and
bathhouse, nature trails, picnic
pavilions, and fishing pier. The adjacent
10-acre site across Hayne Boulevard was
used for parking, pedestrian access and
active recreation facilities.
BKI estimated the
total planned construction cost for this
project at $18.2 million, divided into a
five-phase implementation plan.
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