Posted on April 20, 2026
Plans to redevelop Lincoln Beach are moving forward, but a newly extended timeline is raising questions from residents eager to see progress at the historic site.
City officials say the long-awaited project in New Orleans East is now expected to be completed in 2027, pushing the timeline back as planning and approvals continue.
Lincoln Beach was a major destination for Black residents during segregation, offering one of the few public waterfront spaces available at the time. During its peak in the 1940s and 1950s, the site featured amusement rides, entertainment, and access to Lake Pontchartrain, drawing families from across the region.
Tanjee Wall, a New Orleans East resident, said she has childhood memories of the beach before it closed.
“As a small child, I have some remembrance of a place that was very beautiful and people having a good time,” Wall said. “I remember entertainment and even amusement.”
The City of New Orleans plans to transform the area into a modern public space, with proposed features including a boardwalk, improved beach access and a space dedicated to preserving the site’s history.
Wall said recent years have brought renewed attention to the project, but she and others are still waiting to see meaningful progress.
“The last couple of years have been the most movement with the beach development,” she said. “It’s important for the community to see this project happen.”
According to city officials, the first phase of redevelopment will focus on foundational improvements such as landscaping, beach restoration, a pedestrian bridge and utility upgrades. That phase carries an estimated cost of $15 million.
Despite those plans, some residents are questioning the project’s pace.
“There is so much potential,” Wall said. “Why is it taking so long?”
