Manresa Wilds

Manresa Wilds is the transformation of the former NRG power plant site on Manresa Island into a thriving and accessible 125-acre park. The park, when complete, will unlock almost two miles of shoreline access and create a unique destination alongside the adaptive reuse of the structures at its center. Located on the Long Island Sound in Southeast Connecticut, Manresa Island holds centuries of history and ecological significance. Since the 1800s, it has been home to farmland, a spiritual retreat center, and, for 60 years, a power plant that brought energy and prosperity to the region but also left a legacy of air pollution and coal ash deposits. The plant closed in 2013, and for over a decade, Manresa Island has been cordoned off to the public. While it was abandoned, a unique urban ecology emerged on the site: turkeys, deer, and the occasional coyote live in a birch forest that sprouted on the ash deposits, and ospreys nest along its rocky coast. Interior wetland ecosystems caused by roads and heavy site earthworks have emerged, contributing to the island’s accidental biodiversity. The design for the site preserves as much as possible of this accidental ecosystem and transforms this once fenced site into a park like no other—a healthy public space with water access, public swimming, play space, recreational and ecological experiences, and a network of walking paths. The plan incorporates remediation strategies that will revive Manresa’s coastal ecosystems and preserve the feeling and character of many of its post-industrial landscapes. To ensure the site is resilient, the design expands living shorelines, adds tree canopy to combat extreme heat, and elevates portions of the site around the power plant to mitigate increased flooding and sea level rise. Projected to open in 2030 through phased development, this regional park will serve as a hub for learning, exploration, and community engagement.

Water Stewardship – Reduce potable water waste, improved stormwater management.
Meet non-potable water demand with treated wastewater. Treat all stormwater onsite through natural and mechanical means without chemicals. Manage 95th percentile through on-site retention, supplying treatment for reuse. Reduce irrigation by 50% from the EPA baseline. Specify efficient low flow/flush water fixtures.

Low Carbon Development – Building and site energy efficiency, on-site renewable generation, net zero energy, net zero carbon, reduce embodied carbon, reduce construction and transportation emissions, improve carbon transparency.
Offset 100% of site operational carbon emissions using on-site renewable energy generation. Conduct a whole life site carbon study including both embodied and operational carbon. Track and minimize transportation and construction emissions. Develop EPDs for project specific materials. Implement opportunities for material re-use on site. Minimize operational carbon emissions through passive and active design strategies. Reduce site embodied carbon by 20% through low carbon hardscape and sequestration.

Responsible Materials – Prioritize on-site reuse, reduce material waste, equitable material sourcing, support human health with healthier materials, net zero operational waste.
Design site elements for disassembly + flexibility. Target 3-5 key materials for Design for Freedom. 90% construction and demolition waste diversion. 100% FSC certified wood. Red List Free products for 3-5 key materials. Prioritize regional sourcing within 200 miles. Explore circular operational waste streams.

Community Health & Engagement – Social equity, improved outdoor thermal comfort, accessibility, community learning.
Design thermally comfortable outdoor spaces during all seasons. Achieve 3-4 SITES human health and well-being credits. Provide educational site elements. Design site for improved access, social connection, and physical activity.

Revitalize Ecology – Improved biodiversity, protect existing habitats, resilient shoreline.
Reduce impacts of extreme weather events. Provide and restore aquatic and land habitats for key species. Improve water quality through filtering sediments, absorbing nutrients, and pollutants from runoff. Design natural buffers and features for coastal flood
mitigation and stormwater control.