NORWALK – Manresa Island Corp., the nonprofit leading the transformation of the $120 million, 125-acre Manresa Wilds, has unveiled the concept plan for what it is calling Northern Forest.
It is a 28-acre landscape that will welcome Norwalkers back to the former power plant site for the first time in nearly 75 years. Shaped by extensive ecological study and community input, the Northern Forest will be the first publicly accessible phase of the park, offering a mosaic of revitalized habitats that will include meadows, marshland, groves, and forest. Pending local and state approvals, the Northern Forest is expected to open in spring 2027.
“From the beginning, our goal has been to unlock this site for everyone as quickly and responsibly as possible,” said Austin and Allison McChord, city residents and philanthropists who have backed the project with their own money. “By focusing on the Northern Forest as the first phase of Manresa Wilds, we can prioritize ecological restoration and responsible access simultaneously.
“We want everyone to experience these trails and clearings, and feel the connection to the land and water. We are so excited to deliver this first part of the project and build something people will love.”
The site of the Northern Forest served as a coal ash dump for the former power plant where, over time, native species like grey birch took hold. The elevated levels of fly ash within the soil also poses health and safety risks to humans and wildlife alike. In order to ensure the long-term vitality of the forest, and to allow the Norwalk community to safely enjoy this ecological resource, stewardship and remediation activities are required.
The Northern Forest concept plan, designed by award-winning landscape architecture firm SCAPE, allows safe access to the forest and advances the overall site’s goals of enhanced ecology, through soil remediation and habitat enhancement.
The concept plan preserves and fortifies the existing woodlands while introducing three “forest pockets”— Eco, Gather, and Learn — each offering a distinct experience with flexible spaces for exploration, gathering, and reflection.
“This first phase of Manresa Wilds weaves new trails, protective fencing, and native plantings into the birch forest, preserving as much of the existing landscape as possible,” said Kate Orff, founding principal of SCAPE. “Our design for the North Forest balances safety, remediation, access, and rewilding.”
The concept plan for Northern Forest was shaped by extensive community feedback, with a “neighbor-first” design that prioritizes community desires for passive recreation and open parkland while creating safe access to forest resources and improving site access and security.
Access & amenities
The Northern Forest also introduces a reimagined entrance along Longshore Avenue, designed to safely manage traffic flow and minimize neighborhood impact. Features include no more than 50 on-site parking spots, two bus parking spots, 15 bike racks, bathrooms, a drinking fountain, and water bottle station.
Norwalk Transit will include a new bus stop there as part of its expanded route B service. Manresa Island Corp. is also exploring additional alternate transportation options, including a “summer circulator” microtransit bus to link Manresa Wilds with local institutions including the Maritime Aquarium, Stepping Stones Children’s Museum, and SoNo Collection.
“I’ve lived next to Manresa for a dozen years, and for as long as I can remember it’s been fenced off,” said Tom Beusse, resident of Shorefront Park. “Imagining the old power plant grounds as a place to explore and connect to the water again means so much to those of us who’ve seen the site abandoned for so long. I can’t wait to see its transformation into a truly public green space.”
Next steps
The Northern Forest concept plan requires local site plan approval and a wetland map amendment, as well as state-level remediation approval from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Once approved, site work will begin alongside the larger remediation plan, orchestrated by AKRF, that will address decades of soil contamination from the operations of the power plant and guard Manresa Wilds from coastal erosion, rising sea levels, and storm surges.
The next phase of Manresa Wilds, which includes the adaptation of the power plant building into a vibrant community hub and the vast majority of the landscaping plan, is expected to be completed by 2032.
