Events

Soon you'll trek through sea, marsh, and forest, and explore amazing structures that once powered our region. This is the Wilds, where every path sparks curiosity and a new lore takes root.

The Northern Forest

In February 2026, we unveiled our final vision for Manresa Wilds—shaped by thousands of community voices into a park designed with and for Norwalk.

See the vision
Phased for Growth

The non-profit Manresa Island Corp., with the support of philanthropic and community partners, is leading this once-in-a-lifetime transformation. At its heart is a commitment to environmental safety and ecological renewal, ensuring the land is safe, healthy, and resilient for generations to come.

View Stewardship Permit
Lead Partners
A Good Neightbor from the Start

Together with the community, Manresa Wilds is opening this once-private shoreline for all to enjoy. Every decision is made with respect to the landscape and the lives around it. Remediation will make the land safe for people and wildlife.

Active park areas will face the harbor, while natural spaces will be conserved and protected. Discreet lighting, buffered trails, and smart traffic planning help minimize disruption and maximize harmony with our surroundings.

Originally a glacial island, the site of Manresa Wilds has been home to a Jesuit retreat, and a power plant that once supplied energy to the region. Now, it’s being reimagined as a world-class park that invites everyone to revel in the wild.

Latest From The WildsLatest From The Wilds

❄️🚗 Cars once raced between the Norwalk Islands across the frozen Long Island Sound?

Jerry Goldstein, a former construction laborer at the plant, remembers those races and talks about how the Sound no longer freezes like it used to.

🎥 Wesleyan University Oral History Project

#OralHistory #NorwalkHistory #ManresaWilds #wesleyanuniversity
The first signs of fall are showing up at Manresa 🍂🌿

📸 @magic_sites 
#firstdayoffall🍁 #norwalkct
A snapshot of summer 🌊

#ManresaWilds #Summer2026 #NorwalkCT
Fall is a perfect time to tour Manresa Wilds. 🍂 Climb up to the roof, enjoy the coastal views on a UTV ride, and experience the scale of the power plant buildings for yourself.

Thanks to our neighbors @theshoreandcountryclub for joining us this week.

Visit our website to sign up for a tour, running now through the week of Thanksgiving. 

#PublicTours #ManresaWilds #adaptivereuse
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