“The first time we came across Manresa (Island) was by kayak,” the couple told Realtor.com. “As we paddled along the shoreline, we saw the marshes, the circling osprey and the extraordinary power plant rising behind them.”
Manresa Island — once home to a power plant and closed to the public for decades — was slated for luxury waterfront housing.
Instead, the McChords saw a chance to create something different.
“We identified an opportunity to do something very different; to reclaim the waterfront for the community and create a public space that could benefit everyone,” they said.
Their project, dubbed Manresa Wilds, aims to transform the island into a public park with restored ecosystems, walking trails and gathering areas.
The former power plant would become a community hub with classrooms, event space and programs focused on environmental education and local history.
“Our hope is that Manresa Wilds becomes a place for everyone, an ‘island for all,’” the couple said. “We want it to feel alive in every season, with trails through the forest, places to gather, and opportunities to connect with the water.”
A different kind of investment
Austin McChord — who sold his cybersecurity company Datto for about $1.5 billion in 2017 — said the project reflects a belief that wealth should be used for public good.
“We see the park as a gift to Norwalk that belongs to the community, but also a model for the transformation of other disused, polluted industrial sites into treasured community assets,” the McChords said.
The couple grew up nearby and returned to raise their family in the area.
“This community has shaped who we are, and we’ve always believed that giving back should start close to home,” they said. “The chance to take a site that once produced pollution and turn it into a place that restores the environment and connects communities is deeply meaningful to us.”
Generational values in real estate
Projects like Manresa Wilds reflect a generational shift in how younger Americans approach property and investment.
Millennials inheriting wealth are more likely to value sustainability, walkability and community benefit over maximum financial return, Realtor.com added.
“Investing in public space is investing in community,” the McChords said. “To be able to impact a kid’s life and create core memories or be the site where cutting-edge research could take place is something we will cherish for the rest of our lives.”
Community feedback
The McChords said the project has drawn thousands of residents to meetings, surveys and tours.
“We’ve been blown away by the overwhelming positive and supportive feedback,” they said. “We have been committed since Day one to hearing people’s ideas and hopes for the park to help shape the final design of the park — so this will be a true asset to the community.”
As wealth shifts and younger generations take ownership, projects like Manresa Wilds may signal a broader reimagining of development.
“This is the most valuable investment of our time and energy that we can imagine,” the couple said. “We hope that other people with the means to do something similar will be inspired to invest back into their communities.”
