top of page

Wynetta McNeill: Heiress of the OAC

Wynetta McNeill is the grand-daughter of the man who walked the forest and first saw the importance of preserving it.

Photo Unavailable

Well, first of all, this forest was discovered and set aside because of my grandfather's purchase of property on this street. And this was in 1967. He did a survey of the land. He physically walked the territory. And I believe it's about 30 or 40 acres. And as he surveyed the land, he found that this was an old forest. And his love for the woods is based on him being a farmer in South Fulton County. And so from him having been a farmer and a chef, he was able to understand the significance of this land mass and present to the Board of Alderman and other city and business people who had to conduct land usage, the significance of land preservation

Discovery of the Old Growth Forest

Old growth forests are more than just ancient trees, they are living archives of ecological memory and places of quiet resilience. These stands of towering oaks and thick underbrush provide important ecological niches and respite for city-dwellers looking to retreat from the business and noise.

In neighborhoods where development pressures mount and green space is often the first casualty, these forests stand as symbols of environmental integrity and cultural continuity. Their preservation is not just about trees but about safeguarding the living legacies of communities that have long understood the value of place.

Date: Unknown

Interviewer: Unknown

bottom of page