On 404 Day 2026, Shirley Clarke Franklin Park was alive with the energy of more than 200 volunteers from 12 Atlanta-area colleges and universities, all showing up to give back to the city they love, and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens joined in the fun.
The annual 404 Day of Service, held on Atlanta’s April 4 celebration of area code 404 and all the things that make this city special, has grown into one of the most meaningful expressions of civic pride. Along the Beltline, we celebrate it, too.
404 Day is a celebration of Atlanta’s soul, and the Day of Service is how the Beltline community lives that out. The Beltline is built on partnership: between neighborhoods, between institutions and between Atlantans who believe in a more connected, more equitable city. Days like this are what that partnership looks like in action.
Mayor Gets His Hands Dirty
Mayor Dickens didn’t just stop by to say a few words. He rolled up his sleeves and got to work alongside volunteers, pulling stakes and silt fencing out of the ground. It was a simple but powerful moment and a reminder that the Beltline belongs to all of us.
12 Colleges, One City
Each year, Atlanta’s colleges and universities unite for a day of hands-on community service along the Beltline trail. This year’s project took place at Shirley Clarke Franklin Park, where volunteers removed temporary silt fencing left behind from park construction to help restore and preserve the surrounding landscape. Participating institutions included Spelman College, Morris Brown College, Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, Oglethorpe University, Agnes Scott College, Atlanta Metropolitan State College, Emory University, Georgia State University, Savannah College of Art and Design and Georgia Tech.
The friendly competition between schools added energy to the day, and when it was all said and done, Spelman College was recognized as the 404 Day Service Champion.
Delta Air Lines, an Atlanta Beltline supporter, was on hand with employee volunteers to support their community partnerships and corporate sustainability goals, a reflection of the deep partnership between the Atlanta Beltline and Atlanta’s institutions.
See photos from the day from Delta here.
Thank you to every volunteer, every participating college and university, Mayor Dickens, Delta Air Lines, Keen Water for providing water, and Atlanta ToolBank for providing the tools for making this day one to remember.
To get involved with future Beltline volunteer events, visit beltline.org/support/volunteer. Follow us on social media at @atlantabeltline for updates and photos from the day.
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