EventsVisits

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

A better way to explore Manresa—one piece at a time. 🧩

One of our summer interns brought Manresa Island to life with this interactive 3D model, designed and built piece by piece. Each structure can be lifted from the model to reveal a QR code underneath, connecting you to more information about its future and purpose. 👀✨

Find it at our next community event

#manresaisland #norwalkct #3dmodel #FutureOfManresa
An island for all starts with building connections. 🌿

Yesterday we welcomed the team from @building1community  based in Stamford, to Manresa Wilds for a tour of the site and a conversation about the vision of Manresa Island. 
We’re excited to continue strengthening relationships with organizations that help make our community more inclusive, connected, and welcoming.

#manresawilds  #norwalkct #stamfordconnecticut #Community
A glimpse of Manresa Island in the 1960s, when barges regularly delivered coal directly to the power plant. ⛴️

The tugboat shown in the first photo was built in 1956 and remained in service for 50 years before being scrapped in 2006. 

📸: First photo courtesy of Ed Carlson.

#ManresaWilds #ManresaIsland #NorwalkHistory #ConnecticutHistory
Summer in motion @ manresa ☀️ 

#summer #norwalk #manresaisland
View All