Located behind a residential neighborhood in South Norwalk, Manresa Island served as the home of a coal-fired power plant and later an oil-powered plant since the 1950s, until it was permanently shut down in 2013. Before its closure, the power plant sprinkled soot across the surrounding neighborhoods. However, under the latest plan from Norwalk residents Austin and Allison McChord, the once-hazardous site will be transformed to include nearly two miles of waterfront, a pedestrian bridge, a pier, and a 250,000-square-foot recreation center. According to Manresa Island Corp., the nonprofit organization created by the McChords, the 125-acre park is scheduled to open in 2030. A representative from the organization said it will acquire the property from the current owner, real estate firm Argent Ventures, in the fall. Over the next six years, Austin McChord said the project group has a lot of remediation work, community outreach and traffic planning to do.
Plans Unveiled for 125-Acre Park on Site of Former Power Plant in Norwalk