The Lincoln Beach Restoration

The Lincoln Beach Redevelopment Project is a City of New Orleans-led effort to revitalize and safely reopen Lincoln Beach as a vibrant, accessible, and inclusive waterfront destination for the New Orleans community. The project includes environmental cleanup, shoreline restoration, infrastructure upgrades, and the construction of new public amenities.

After years of neglect, environmental degradation and impacts from weather-related events which led to safety concerns, Lincoln Beach was closed permanently. This redevelopment effort aims to restore the area while honoring its historical and cultural significance.

Under the direction of Mayor Cantrell, the City of New Orleans Office of Resilience and Sustainability is managing the project in collaboration with community partners, technical consultants, and contractors selected through a public bidding process.

Currently, through the Procurement process the City of New Orleans has selected RNGD as the contractor, after proper execution of the Professional Services Agreement, Construction is expected to begin in [Insert Date]. Since this project is scheduled to be completed in phases, the City of New Orleans will continue to update the community on the progress. A detailed schedule will be updated regularly on the project’s webpage.

Safety and environmental readiness will determine when the public can return.

For safety reasons, Lincoln Beach remains closed to the public during the first phase of construction. It is anticipated that future phases of construction will allow for portions of the beach to be open to the public. Any unauthorized entry is prohibited.

CMAR stands for "Construction Manager at Risk." This is a type of construction contract where the contractor is brought in early to collaborate with the design team. The CMAR helps control costs, identify potential issues, and ensure the project stays on time and on budget. The contractor also agrees to a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the work.

RFQ stands for "Request for Qualifications." It's a process used by the City of New Orleans to find qualified firms for a project. Companies submit their experience and expertise, and the City of New Orleans evaluates them before requesting full proposals.

During the revitalization process, the City of New Orleans has issued and awarded multiple contracts to which agencies have been working on the design and ultimate construction of Lincoln Beach. Each agency is tasked with different responsibilities which require their expertise and experience. To date, each contracted party has worked with the City of New Orleans and community to move this project forward.

In general, the City of New Orleans will award the construction contract to the qualified company that bids the lowest price to perform the work. The contractor may or may not be based locally. The City of New Orleans urges all qualified contractors to bid on all open projects.

Contractors are selected through a competitive public process, based on qualifications, past performance, commitment to equity and DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) participation, and ability to deliver quality work. Because there are multiple procurement processes, the City of New Orleans urges all qualified contractors to be sure to attend all Industry Day events, as well as register with the City of New Orleans’s BRASS system.

A DBE is a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise — typically a minority- or woman-owned business certified to participate in City of New Orleans projects. The City of New Orleans sets DBE participation goals to ensure inclusive economic opportunity.

The City of New Orleans employs the BRASS system for all current and potential bidders or contractors. This system send out notifications of all open bids to which the contractors may be interested in. The City of New Orleans urges all qualified contractors to enroll in the BRASS system and participate in all Industry Days scheduled by the City of New Orleans.

Bid tabs are posted outside the door of the Purchasing Department conference room at City Hall. Results can also be emailed by contacting the appropriate buyer or calling 504-658-1550.

Construction impacts will vary depending on the work being done but may include limited parking availability, safety fencing, construction equipment, safety signage, noise, and dust.

Contractors will maintain clean work sites, adhere to safety signage and traffic regulations, and provide advance notice for utility disruptions. Mail and deliveries should continue, but garbage bins may need to be moved to the nearest corner.

Crews generally work from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Weekend work may be approved as needed. Residents can sign up for notifications by emailing ose@nola.gov or calling 504-658-7623.

The City of New Orleans assigns full-time inspectors and conducts bi-weekly progress meetings with engineers and contractors. Concerns can be reported to ose@nola.gov or 504-658-7623.

Contact the Office of Strategic Engagement & Special Projects by emailing lincolnbeach@nola.gov or calling 504-658-7623. Contractors typically document work sites before construction begins to help verify any claims.

Visit the HireNOLA website to complete a First Source Application. HireNOLA connects local jobseekers with contractor hiring needs on City projects. For more info, call 504-658-4500.

The City of New Orleans is removing hazardous materials, testing soil and water quality, and restoring the shoreline to meet modern environmental standards and improve long-term resiliency.

Yes. The redevelopment plan includes ways to honor Lincoln Beach’s cultural history, particularly its role as a gathering place for Black families during segregation.

Visit Lincoln Beach News for project updates, timelines, meeting announcements, and progress reports. Sign up for updates at lincolnbeach@nola.gov or call 504-658-7623.

The City of New Orleans distributes monthly updates on active construction. Sign up for the Office of Strategic Engagement & Special Projects newsletter.

Yes. The City will host community engagement sessions to provide updates, answer questions, and gather feedback. Meeting dates will be posted online and shared via community partners.

Email lincolnbeach@nola.gov or call 504-658-7623. You can also submit questions directly through the Lincoln Beach project webpage.