History: In the mid-1990s, residents in Southwest Atlanta united to stop the development of a mini wastewater treatment plant in a community park. After the win, the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance or WAWA formed.

Did you know: To save nearly 200 acres of forested greenspace in Southwest Atlanta, WAWA raised more than $2 million. Now their efforts are focused on revitalizing the Outdoor Activity Center (OAC), a 26-acre nature preserve. At the OAC, children ages 5-12 enjoy week-long summer camps and field trips where they learn about various plants, wildlife, their community garden, water quality and ecology.

Motto: A healthy environment equals a healthy community.

How you can help: Join other volunteers on the second Saturday of each month (with the exception of January and July) to assist in their community garden, remove invasive plants, or keep nature trails clear. Financial donations can support summer camp sponsorships and environmental justice, education and stewardship.

To learn more: Visit www.wawa-online.org or email info@wawa-online.org call 404-752-5385.

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Workers, clean up damaged house near Paulding County High School after a storm passed through, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Dallas. National Weather Service teams will be conducting a damage survey in the Paulding County/Dallas area, which sustained “pretty significant” damage from the storms, NWS Senior Meteorologist Dylan Lusk told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sunday morning. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC