Manresa Wilds reimagines the 125-acre former Manresa Island power plant site on Long Island Sound as a public park and ecological sanctuary. Developed by Manresa Island Corp. in close collaboration with landscape architects SCAPE and architecture studio BIG, the master plan shifts a long-closed industrial shoreline into a diverse coastal landscape with nearly two miles of newly accessible waterfront. The design responds to extensive community engagement, prioritizing restored habitats, resilient landscapes, and sensitive public access.
SCAPE’s Ecological Framework
The landscape strategy is the restoration and reconnection of coastal and upland ecosystems. SCAPE’s plan weaves together birch forests, native meadows, salt marshes, and wetlands, creating a mosaic that reflects the natural ecology of Long Island Sound. Sensitive marsh areas will be preserved and expanded, with some formerly elevated boardwalks replaced by grounded trails that minimize disturbance to the wildlife.
A network of trails more than 15 miles in total will guide visitors through forest clearings, gathering spaces, and overlooks, strengthening visual and physical connections with the water. Western edges of the site will remain largely undisturbed as a buffer, screening adjacent neighborhoods and shielding habitat zones.
The design balances restoration with resilience. Along the eastern shoreline, a sequence of coastal spaces, public beach areas, tide pools, kayak launches, and small coves will encourage interaction with the sound. Rather than rely on hard infrastructure, the scheme integrates a “living shoreline” approach of native plantings, terraces, and natural forms to mitigate erosion and flooding while supporting ecological function and coastal biodiversity.
BIG’s Architectural Vision for the Manresa Island Structures
Anchoring the park is the adaptive reuse of the 1960s power plant. BIG’s vision repurposes the industrial complex not as relics to be demolished but as civic and educational spaces embedded within the landscape. The Turbine Hall, with its monumental volume and mezzanines, is planned as a flexible civic space for gatherings, exhibitions, and public events.
The administrative wing will house a café and restaurant overlooking a central lawn, while the Boiler Building is envisioned for future research and educational programming. A new pavilion at the base of the smokestack will support a community pool and beach facilities, complete with shaded seating and locker rooms. Throughout, original industrial machinery and structural elements are retained as interpretive anchors that honor the site’s history.
BIG’s design also emphasizes resilience: structural adaptations will enable these large volumes to withstand a 100-year flood event, integrating climate responsiveness directly into the architecture. Lighting and hardscape elements have been carefully calibrated in response to community feedback on light pollution and ecological sensitivity.
Phased Implementation and Early Public Access
The project will unfold in phases. The first to open, slated for spring 2027, is the 28-acre Northern Forest. This zone focuses on ecological restoration and accessible nature trails through meadows, marshland, and wooded groves, allowing the public to engage with the landscape early while broader remediation continues. Subsequent phases through the early 2030s will incrementally bring expanded landscapes, shoreline interventions, and the adaptive reuse of buildings.
Throughout planning, input from over 3,000 community members shaped priorities, resulting in more natural landscape areas (expanded by roughly 30 percent) and a reduction in hardscape and intensive programming areas by half. Transit access points, distributed parking ideas, and even non-lighting strategies reflect a broader intent to balance visitor access with environmental and neighborhood considerations.
Designing Manresa Wilds as a Living Coastal Landscape
Manresa Wilds is a holistic approach. SCAPE’s ecological framework and BIG’s adaptive reuse work together to transform an industrial site into a public space that is both culturally meaningful and environmentally regenerative. Trails will invite exploration, restored shorelines will foster biodiversity, and the park’s architecture will frame community engagement against the backdrop of tidal waters and coastal forests. In this way, the master plan delivers a resilient public landscape rooted in ecology and life.
Image credit: BIG/SCAPE/ Manresa Wilds
