Manresa Wylds team pitches 125‑acre plan to Harbor Commission, touting public access and ecological restoration

Attorney Liz Sutchi introduced the Manresa Wylds team and said the project would convert a former industrial site into a privately funded public park with walking trails, a north‑forest opening in about a year, living shoreline restoration and water‑access features.

Chris Murphy, the project's chief of design and construction, described remediation and resiliency commitments and said the master plan calls for roughly 80% green space, 12% beach/play/water access and 8% buildings and operational areas. “A core tenant of the project vision has been to create an accessible shoreline that is not accessible today,” he said, adding the team has a DEEP stewardship permit that commits the nonprofit to site‑wide cleanup.

Landscape lead Gina Worth (SCAPE) outlined coastal programming: a southern ecological beach, a harbor promenade with potential ferry docking, kayak and small‑craft areas, and a living shoreline to replace rip‑rap. Project representatives said they are pursuing partnerships with academic and research organizations, including potential ties to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for research vessel access.

Several residents and commissioners pressed the team for more detail on stormwater, flood impacts and how long‑term public access would be secured if ownership changes. David Lindsay, a resident, said the application contains “amorphous aspects” and urged that analysis of traffic and flooding not be deferred. Jessica Vanashek, the project's executive director, said an operational plan is not finalized but the team is exploring stewardship endowments and institutional partnerships to support long‑term public stewardship.