The Manresa Island Park will provide waterfront recreational spaces for the community.
What will the new Manresa Island Park look like? A new development is planned at the Manresa Power Plant, and it will benefit Norwalk and all of Fairfield County.
For a quick backstory, the Manresa Power Plant was decommissioned in 2013, but it’s been an eyesore since it was built in 1953. It even earned a spot on Connecticut’s “Filthy Five” list in 1997. So, it hasn’t had the best reputation.
Walking through the interior of the power plant is like stepping onto a science fiction movie set. It’s incredible. But now, the vast spaces and soaring ceilings will be transformed into community event spaces and indoor pools!
Recently, it was announced that Norwalk residents Austin and Allison McChord purchased Manresa Island to transform it into a 125-acre, publicly accessible park. This project will reconnect our community with one and three-quarter miles of beautiful waterfront.
Before taking a tour and seeing the plans, I thought demolishing the power plant buildings was a good idea. However, that changed when I saw the soaring interior spaces and stepped onto the roof with breathtaking panoramic views of Long Island Sound stretching over to Long Island and Manhattan.
Standing tall at the head of Norwalk Harbor, the iconic blue power plant buildings are landmarks that boaters rely on, and they’re about to become part of something amazing.
The new park is designed with community event space, pools, and an educational center. It will become a great place to gather, learn, and relax by the water.
The property will undergo extensive brownfield remediation. This means reopening the waterfront and reviving coastal ecosystems. The park will have new walking paths and healthy public spaces with access to water, beaches, public swimming, play areas, and ecological and recreational activities.
If you want to learn more about this project, check out manresaislandpark.org.
I highly recommend booking a tour to see the site for yourself. While tours have wrapped up for the winter, keep an eye out for more openings in spring 2025. You won’t want to miss it. Lastly, I want to express my gratitude to the McChord family for their vision and generosity, which made this possible for all of us.
If you would like to discuss the Manresa Power Plant or anything related to real estate, feel free to reach out at (203) 722-5445 or linda.dunsmore@kw.com. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Manresa Island.
