Our Story

Newman Wetlands Center is a nature area dedicated to environmental education featuring over a mile of trails through wetland and forest habitats and a learning center with classrooms, exhibits, and public restrooms. This space was conceptualized by the former General Manager of Clayton County Water Authority, Melvin L. Newman. He hoped to create a place for free community education about the crucial role wetlands play in protecting Clayton County’s water resources. 

Since opening the gates to the public in October 1995, NWC has provided a safe outdoor learning space for hundreds of thousands of people across Metro Atlanta and beyond. People come to learn, bird, photograph wildflowers, find a peaceful place to relax, and spend time with loved ones. We lead engaging public and private learning experiences throughout the year including our annual Wetlands and Watershed Festival. 

NWC sits on the E. L. Huie Site, which was originally purchased in the 1970s to be part of CCWA’s former land application operations. The upper section of Pate’s Creek and the surrounding land was converted to a wetland when CCWA built two earthen dams in the early 1990s. The creation of NWC served as a mitigation project, creating new wetland habitat to compensate for wetlands flooded during the construction of Shoal Creek Reservoir. 

The land came with a rich history. It is a part of the traditional lands of the Muscogee Nation and after their removal by the federal government, it was used for timber harvesting, cotton farming, and as a Boy Scouts of America camp for Black scouts before the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We weave these stories into our educational programs to remind visitors that the land is an integral part of our community.