Phased redevelopment of former power plant site in Norwalk emphasizes ecological restoration and community access
By Staff Reporter
Norwalk, Connecticut | February 27, 2026
SCAPE and BIG have unveiled final renderings for the Manresa Wilds masterplan, a transformative 125-acre waterfront park planned for Manresa Island in Norwalk, Connecticut.
The updated vision was released by the Manresa Island Corporation, the nonprofit overseeing the project. Once complete, Manresa Wilds will convert the former industrial power plant site into a large-scale public park focused on habitat restoration, environmental education, and public access to Long Island Sound.
A Restored Waterfront Landscape
SCAPE was selected in October 2024 to lead the master planning process and community engagement, while BIG was commissioned to reimagine the existing power plant structures for adaptive reuse.
The revised masterplan reflects extensive public consultation, including large-scale meetings, surveys, site tours, and collaboration with neighborhood groups, educators, business owners, and civic leaders. According to project leaders, the updated plan increases natural areas by 30 percent while cutting hardscape and active features by half compared to earlier proposals.
A large community lawn will serve as the park’s central gathering space. Interventions across sensitive ecological zones — including the Western Marsh — will be minimized to protect wildlife and shoreline habitats. Lighting and water features have also been reduced to limit ecological disruption and minimize impacts on neighboring communities.
SCAPE design principal Gena Wirth described the plan as a “healed landscape that feels truly wild,” emphasizing restoration efforts that strengthen the ecology of Long Island Sound while allowing people to engage closely — but responsibly — with the waterfront.
Adaptive Reuse and Research Hub
BIG’s architectural interventions focus on transforming the former power plant into flexible public-use facilities. The renovated Boiler Building is planned to house an Ocean Lab, leveraging the site’s proximity to Long Island Sound as a center for marine research and environmental learning.
Outdoor classrooms and nature-based education spaces are key components of the Urban Ecology Campus integrated within the park.
Active amenities have been relocated to the southernmost section of the site, and multiple arrival points are planned, including designated bus drop-off zones, activated piers, and structured site parking.
Phased Development Timeline
The project will unfold in three major phases:
Phase One (Spring 2027):
A 28-acre area known as the Northern Forest will open with restored woodlands, open grasslands, nature trails, and outdoor classrooms.
Phase Two (2031–2032):
Implementation of the majority of the landscape masterplan, including adaptive reuse of the former power plant’s Administration Building and Turbine Hall. This stage will also deliver a community pool, pavilion, and nature play areas.
Phase Three (2032–2035):
Completion of the beachfront promenade, kayak terrace, additional play areas, pier, and field station. The Boiler Building will be preserved for a future and final stage of development.
Ecological Priority Over Urban Density
The Manresa Wilds masterplan prioritizes restoration over urbanization. With half the originally proposed hardscape removed and substantial habitat protections added, the project aims to establish a rare public waterfront landscape that balances recreation with environmental stewardship.
If realized as planned, Manresa Wilds will become one of Connecticut’s most ambitious waterfront reclamation projects — transforming a former industrial site into a year-round ecological and civic destination.
