Bush Mountain has always been more than a neighborhood—it has been a living, breathing example of Black environmentalism. For generations, residents have fought to preserve the land, resisting encroaching development and safeguarding its forests, creeks, and open spaces. In the mid-20th century, when efforts to secure city funding for a Negro recreation center were denied, community leaders took matters into their own hands, pooling resources to establish a safe space for Black children to play and explore. It took 40 more years before the city finally invested in what would become the Outdoor Activity Center (OAC), a testament to the community’s long-standing commitment to greenspace placekeeping.