Community in the City: Six Activities for Making Friends Along the Beltline

Despite its rich history, diverse communities, and Southern hospitality, Atlanta was recently ranked the fourth loneliest city in the United States, with a 2024 report suggesting that almost half of the city’s residents experience isolation.

Against the vastness of urban life, the Atlanta Beltline has served as a transformative public infrastructure project, reconnecting 45+ neighborhoods and bringing the city one step closer together. With that in mind, it’s one of the best places to start bridging the gap of turning strangers into friends!

Here are some of the best free(ish) ways you can utilize the Beltline to find and foster the community you’re searching for.

1. Free Fitness

What better way to make friends than while exercising your heart out? Our free fitness series offered along the Beltline is a great opportunity to meet new folks while enjoying a game of tennis or learning Zumba choreography. No experience is required, just a positive attitude and a joy for connection.

2. Join a Group Book Club

Throughout the city and along the corridor, communities of book lovers are ready to find some common ground on the pages of a good novel.

The Atlanta Book Club includes monthly picks and meet ups around Atlanta, including audiobook walks on the Beltline, allowing for city exploration and friendship building.

 If you already have an endless to be read pile, the Atlanta Silent Book Club is a great place to bring your own book and meet up with other eager readers at their weekly outings — many of which take place along the corridor.

3. Volunteer with the Beltline

Another good way to build community is by serving it. Through the Atlanta Beltline, there are various volunteering opportunities, such as becoming a guide for the bike tours or signing up for a DIY Cleanup program. At each of these events, you will have the chance to meet people with the shared goal of maintaining the city’s vibrant spaces.

4. Take A Walk in the Park

If the outdoors gets you excited, take a walk on the Beltline to access the many parks located along the corridor. Whether at historic sites such as Fourth Wark Park to the popular spot for Beltline Art showcases Gordon White Park, you will have plenty of green space to set up a picnic blanket and meet your neighbors.

5. Atlanta Beltline Art Events

Whether you are searching for a community of fellow artists or are on the hunt for some much-needed inspiration, look no further than the art events happening here on the Beltline.

Some exciting upcoming events are the Tiny Doors ATL Tours led by the artist Karen Anderson Singer. Walking almost a mile on the Beltline, you will immerse yourself in the origin story and creative process of an iconic art series.

6. Sports Leagues

If you want to build your community and have a passion for team sports, join the various organizations practicing along the Beltline. If you’re looking to score some goals ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, sign up for some upcoming pickup events with Sons of Pitches FC.

While making friends can be an overwhelming process, we hope some of these options will serve as starters on your journey to building community.

For more fun activities you can take part in this summer, check out our previous blog here.