Reds' Community Makeover transforms Bond Hill sites

In its 15th year, the annual Community Makeover visited Cincinnati’s Bond Hill neighborhood for the first time. It was one of the most ambitious collaborations that resulted in some of the most remarkable community outcomes.

Every year, the Reds Community Fund (RCF) works with its partners to choose a local neighborhood to make a transformative and sustainable impact while keeping with the RCF’s mission of strengthening youth baseball and softball programs. On March 5, Bond Hill was announced as this year’s recipient of what amounted to a nearly seven-figure commitment that received much more along with in-kind donations and extraordinary volunteer support. Located north of the Norwood Lateral and east of I-75, historic Bond Hill was founded as a railroad suburb and temperance community in 1870. Now home to about 7,000 residents, it is the 19th-largest neighborhood in the city of Cincinnati.

Prior to the March announcement, the Community Makeover team had been introduced to the leaders from Xavier Jesuit Academy (XJA). The new school was an ideal anchor project that could benefit from the Makeover’s unique strengths. In the months that followed the announcement, there was extensive planning, preparation and collaboration, all of which culminated in the Community Makeover service project on Aug. 1. The Cincinnati Reds, P&G, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden along with Cincinnati Children’s, GE Aerospace, Kroger, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and other partners gathered over 500 volunteers to get their hands dirty and finish the five-site transformation.

“For me personally, it’s the best day of the year. You come out here, have a blank canvas you flip over in one day, and the impact is instantaneous,” P&G brand director Matthew Ewing said. “Every time we come out here, it’s so satisfying and so rewarding. This year was even a step above that because we had so much of the community engaging with us. Most years we don’t get that instant feedback, so seeing the community already on the playground, walking through and enjoying the parks, enjoying the walking paths -- you can’t beat this feeling.”

After the volunteers put the final touches on their hard work during a hot, humid summer day, a ribbon cutting was held on the newly renovated Bond Hill Field to officially mark the completion and success of another Community Makeover. Dignitaries included Reds principal owner and managing partner Bob Castellini and president and CEO Phil Castellini as well as Cincinnati Zoo director Thane Maynard, CRC director Daniel Betts and United Way of Greater Cincinnati president and CEO Moira Weir.

“It’s hard to express how much we enjoyed this incredible scope of work,” explained Reds Community Fund executive director, Charley Frank, who led the morning welcome and afternoon ribbon ceremonies. “P&G turn layers of detail and coordination into a nearly seamless operation. The amazing horticulture and design team from the Cincinnati Zoo brings the project to life with over 1,000 plants and pollinators and 60 shade trees. GE Aerospace tackles the STEM labs for the schools and Kroger assists with the kitchen renovation. And there’s so much more. We’re blessed to have such a committed group of iconic Cincinnati-based businesses.”

Highlights included helping Xavier Jesuit Academy prepare to open its doors later this month for the first time with the installation of an urban learning garden, along with walking trails and additional horticultural improvements that are also available to the public. Other projects at the schools included a STEM/STEAM lab, murals courtesy of local artist Brent Billingsley and his team, a wellness space and upgraded kitchen.

Kyle Chandler, the Academy’s incoming principal, was moved by what he saw as he prepares for the school’s inaugural year.

“This is one of the last days of our summer institute and their first time on this campus,” he said. “When we pulled up and there were third, fourth and fifth-grade boys squealing with joy as they saw hundreds of people there to support them and their education, it gave me goosebumps. Then they got off the bus and, without any prompting, proceeded to walk through the garden and thank everybody they encountered. These young men recognize that it’s not just those in front of them or their parents behind them, but it’s all of you here that continue to pray for and support them in everything that they do.”

Another school, Bond Hill Academy, received equally impactful upgrades: a complete playground remodel, renovated outdoor classroom, STEM/STEAM lab, and murals at the pre-K-6 Cincinnati Public School facility. The Bond Hill Community Center was the beneficiary of an updated teen room, signage, landscaping and community access. The Bond Hill Food Pantry at the Church of Resurrection welcomed upgrades to its offices, workspaces and pantry.

The playground is a game-changer, as it serves both the Bond Hill Academy and Community Center. The design and installation is being managed by Playground Equipment Services, who also installed the new ball field at adjacent Bond Hill Park.

Speaking of the field, a Community Makeover wouldn’t be complete without a baseball-related project, and this year was no different. Bond Hill Park now boasts a completely renovated ball field with new dugouts and a synthetic infield, plus a new community walking path, shade structure and updated community garden.

As a special part of the service day, the Cincinnati Recreation Commission’s Bond Hill Community Center hosted a day-long event to provide services for residents of Bond Hill and neighboring communities. Coordinated by the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, this included a presence from the 513Relief Bus, which provides health screenings, social services and economic relief to communities in the area; Shoes 4 the Shoeless providing 400 pairs of complimentary shoes to neighborhood kids; the construction of 33 new beds for families in need courtesy of Sleep in Heavenly Peace; and a Toys for Tots toy drive.

A unique wrinkle to this year’s Makeover was an additional event held the following day that included current Reds players and a former player. Reds pitcher Brent Suter, a longtime Cincinnati resident and Moeller High School graduate, and outfielder Will Benson teamed up with former Red Chris Dickerson to lead a community sustainability event on Aug. 2 at Bond Hill Park’s new community garden. Dickerson is the co-founder of the environmental organization Players for the Planet.

Benji Backer, a nationally renowned environmentalist and friend of Suter’s, also helped plan the day and joined the group for the morning of service. Suter, Benson and Backer helped the kids plant vegetables and herbs along with a pollinator garden. Students from Xavier Jesuit Academy and Bond Hill Academy will use the Bond Hill Community Garden as an educational opportunity, focusing on nutrition and sustainability. The Cincinnati Zoo and Keep Cincinnati Beautiful also helped plan and execute the event.

Suter told Benson about the project earlier in the week and what it meant to him, and that was all the outfielder needed to join his teammate in Bond Hill. Benson is no stranger to community events since joining the Reds, so he was happy to lend a hand.

“One of the speakers to start the day said that in 50 years, what we do today will have turned into something absolutely beautiful, so to be at the genesis and the origin of this is pretty cool. And having the kids here to help me and Brent along with zoo members was amazing; there was a real family feel to it,” he said. “It’s a blessing and an honor to be a Red. They’ve blessed me and my family, so with the opportunities I’ve been given, it’s only right that I pour back into the community that has poured into me. I feel there’s a responsibility for me to be out in the community as much as I can be.”

Suter, accompanied by his dad Mike, also attended the Makeover for a portion of the Aug. 1 service day. Even after reading about the event ahead of time, he was still taken aback once he saw it in person.

“Getting here, I was blown away by the size, the cooperation and just the spirit of everybody,” he said. “Everyone’s got a smile on their face and are happy to do the work. It’s really an amazing event and I’m so glad that it’s happening. For the kids and the community here, it’s a really special day.”

Lead partners for this year’s Makeover included P&G, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati Reds and Reds Community Fund. Major partners consisted of Cincinnati Children’s, GE Aerospace, Kroger and the Cincinnati Recreation Commission. Contributing community partners were United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati Public Schools, Cincinnati ToolBank, OneSource and the Duke Energy Foundation. The project also could not have been completed with its host partners, Xavier Jesuit Academy and Church of the Resurrection.