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

Hello to all our new followers! 👋 We loved connecting with everyone who visited our booth at the Norwalk Oyster Festival this weekend. Thanks for stopping by to spin the wheel, @mayorbarbarasmyth! A special shoutout to our ambassadors who helped set up and work the booth. @norwalkseaport @norwalkoysterfestival 🦪

📸 Photos 1, 2 & 4: @mayorbarbarasmyth 

#ManresaWilds #NorwalkOysterFestival #NorwalkCT
Manresa Wilds and the NRVT are teaming up for a community bike ride through South Norwalk! 🚲

This family-friendly ride follows an approximately 5.8-mile route that begins and ends at Manresa Wilds. Afterward, enjoy snacks, visit our informational booths, and join an optional tour of the site.

🗓️ Saturday, September 26, 2026
⏰ Check-in: 9:00–9:30 AM
🚲 Ride begins: 9:45 AM
🏁 Ride ends around 12:00 PM, followed by an optional site tour

📌 What to know:
- Helmets are required.
- Riders must be 10 years or older. Contact Manresa Wilds to ask about age exceptions.
- Participants under 18 must ride with a parent or legal guardian.
- Registration is free, but space is limited.

Register through our website! 🔗

#ʙɪᴋᴇʀɪᴅᴇ #norwalkrivervalleytrail #southnorwalkct
Flying through this short week 🪶🔊

#livefromthewilds #labordayweek #norwalkct
Two of the seven massive steel hoppers inside the Norwalk Harbor Generating Station.

The plant grew in stages, a first power unit built in 1958 and a second one added in 1961, each running its own boiler and its own row of hoppers like these. Coal was barged in and dropped by gravity into the boiler below, until the plant switched to oil in 1972.

📸 by Jasper Southam, taken during an on-site photography day

Interested in seeing inside the power plant buildings for yourself? Sign up for a tour on our website.

#PhotographyFriday #FallTours #AdaptiveReuse
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