Maritime Aquarium Announces New Board Of Trustees Member

NORWALK, CT — The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk recently announced Allison McChord, a founder of the non-profit Manresa Island Corporation, has been welcomed to its Board of Trustees.

According to a news release provided by the aquarium, McChord and her husband, Austin, is leading the effort to transform Norwalk's Manresa Island from the site of a decommissioned, coal-fired (and subsequently oil-fueled) power plant to a 125-acre public park that celebrates and protects the vibrant natural beauty of the Long Island Sound coastline and offers the public unique and varied ways to enjoy that beauty.

"Allison is a true visionary, with a goal to bring nature and the community together, and to see Manresa Island not only as a place of respite and recreation, but as a hub for research, conservation, and education," Maritime Aquarium CEO Jason Patlis said in a news release. "With our own focus on Long Island Sound through exhibits and activities, educational programs, and research and conservation initiatives, we are honored and delighted to have Allison join the board and help us deliver on our own goal to become an 'aquarium without walls.'"

McChord is the founder and principal architect at Dwellop, where she merges beauty and function in her design, according to the aquarium.

"Allison brings unparalleled passion and vision to the Board of Trustees of the aquarium," Clay Fowler, chair of the Board of Trustees, said in a news release. "Given that the aquarium was named the first official partner of the Manresa Island Corporation last October with the public announcement of the initiative, there's no better way to strengthen this partnership than by Allison joining us as a trustee."

Growing up in New England, McChord had been around animals since she was a child and is an avid animal lover. She was introduced to the aquarium in 2020 during a private tour as the aquarium was re-opening after the [COVID-19] pandemic.

The McChords had the inspiration to transform Manresa Island into a public park while kayaking around the island, and seeing up close and from the water the promise of the island as a natural haven and a public oasis from city and suburban life, according to the aquarium.

Since that kayaking trip, the McChords purchased the island, established Manresa Island Corporation, hired a team to develop a master plan soon to be released, engaged in public stakeholder meetings, and began remediation with the removal of the three oil tanks.

The Maritime Aquarium was announced as the first formal partner of the corporation and is developing programs and activities centered on education and conservation through that partnership, according to the aquarium.

"As an animal lover and admirer of the Maritime Aquarium, I'm proud to be joining the board," Allison McChord said in a news release. "This is a great opportunity to help create places where people can connect not just with each other, but with the extraordinary wildlife and ecosystems along our shoreline."