Shovels hit the ground this week as Mobile kicked off a major phase in the ongoing effort to restore Langan Lake.
City and state officials gathered Thursday to launch the dredging portion of the project—an effort that’s been years in the making.
The plan includes removing 225,000 cubic yards of sediment from the lakebed. It’s all part of the broader Three Mile Creek Watershed Restoration Project, and it’s aiming to bring new life to the park’s centerpiece.
This phase is being handled by Hughes Companies, Inc., which secured the $15.1 million contract.
The company is led by Preston Hughes, a local business owner with roots in the community and a long history with the park.
Big Goals for a Muddy Job
At its core, this project is about cleaning up. The lakebed has built up layers of silt and muck over time, impacting water quality and clogging natural drainage paths.
Crews will spend the next year or so pulling that material out.
But the work doesn’t stop there. Some of the dredged material will be reused around the park—raising low-lying areas and improving drainage.
And on the northeast side of the lake, a concrete drainage channel is being transformed into a flowing stream lined with stones and native plants.
Once complete, the project should leave the lake healthier, more balanced, and better prepared for both nature and people to enjoy.
Paddle Boats May Be Back
For the first time in years, Langan Lake could soon be deep enough and clean enough for water recreation to make a real comeback.
Plans are already in motion for events like “Paddle at the Park,” a June 7 celebration where visitors can try kayaking or canoeing right on the water.
If all goes well, regular boat rentals could return in the future.
Apple snails—a major invasive species—are also on the way out.
Crews are burying their eggs beneath feet of removed sediment, helping restore a more natural aquatic environment.
A Local Company with a Big Opportunity
This contract marks a major milestone for Hughes Companies, Inc.—now the largest construction project awarded to a local minority-owned firm in the city’s history.
Preston Hughes has said the project feels personal. He grew up enjoying Langan Park and now gets to help shape its future.
His company will be on-site daily for the next 12 to 18 months, overseeing the transformation from the lakebed up.
The job comes with pressure, but also pride. There’s a lot riding on making sure this park reflects the best version of what it can be.
A Comeback Years in the Making
Restoring Langan Lake wasn’t a quick win. City leaders first worked with the Army Corps of Engineers in the early 2000s, but momentum stalled after Hurricane Katrina.
Now, funding is in place. The effort is supported by RESTORE Act funds, Alabama Department of Environmental Management dollars, and the City of Mobile itself.
With equipment on-site and work now visible, the project finally feels real—and for anyone who’s spent time at Langan Park, that’s reason enough to look forward to what’s next.
Hopeful, More Than Ever
The dredging may be messy, but it’s progress.
Langan Lake is being reimagined—layer by layer, stream by stream, shovel by shovel. It’s a cleanup, a refresh, and a promise that the park’s best days are still ahead.
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