Work will begin soon to improve Lincoln Township Beach.
The Lincoln Township Board of Trustees was told this week that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has at long last signed off on its engineering plan for the project, meaning new amenities can start to be built in the park at 5450 Notre Dame Avenue.
The beach was damaged due to erosion caused by high water levels in Lake Michigan in 2020, and since, the township has been seeking to rebuild it. Engineer Brandon Mieras with Williams and Works told us this week things are now moving forward.
“The DNR has reviewed our plans and specifications, and found them satisfactory for putting them out to bid,” Mieras said. “So we will put them out to bid here, I imagine the next week or so, and probably have four weeks to 30 days for a bid opportunity for a public bid. Advertise it, and then open bids in advance of probably the August [board of trustees] meeting.”
Mieras said the work will result in a new parking area immediately adjacent to the beach. Once that’s open, people will no longer have to park in front of the closed gate and walk the rest of the way to the beach.
Mieras said the work could result in a few additional improvements.
“There’s going to be some picnic tables, some concrete flat work, a little bit of shore fortification, I think, with some thickened edge sidewalk. And we’re moving it back as well, which is the best prevention to keep that from soil erosion again.”
The DNR had to carefully review the township’s plan to ensure critical dunes are protected.
The project’s total cost will be about $500,000, paid for with a $350,000 state grant and a $150,000 match from the township. Additionally, there are plans to construct new restrooms at the beach, although that work is not part of this effort.
Mieras said with the DNR’s approval and the potential awarding of a bid this summer, construction on the parking area could being this fall.
