West Atlanta Watershed Alliance

WAWA’s successes include the creation of several parks that provide recreational opportunities, stormwater management services, and overall increase in quality of life for residents. Even before partnering with city agencies, WAWA was successful in preserving 400 acres of greenspace from development and raising two million dollars in support. However, WAWA recognizes that city partnerships can be beneficial to community led initiatives, and since partnering with the City of Atlanta Bureau of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs, has begun operating a 26-acre urban forest preserve and nature center called the Outdoor Activity Center. In addition, the organization is the steward of the 135-acre Cascade Springs Nature Preserve and the 200-acre Lionel Hampton Beecher Park. These greenspaces are critical in preventing the combined sewer overflows that impact West Atlanta watersheds.

WAWA is not only a protector of greenspace, but a protector of their “blue spaces” as well. WAWA protects the Proctor, Utoy, and Sandy Creek watersheds that have previously been impacted by two combined sewer overflows, 11 landfills, and four Superfund sites. These watersheds feed into the Chattahoochee River, which then continues into the Gulf of Mexico. Protecting these spaces in critical in protecting West Atlanta’s watershed health, and subsequently the health of its communities.