By Sean O’Reilly

Over 400 volunteers to participate in the annual service day on July 24

May 19, 2025

The Cincinnati Reds, P&G and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden along with Cincinnati Children’s, GE Aerospace, Kroger, the United Way of Greater Cincinnati and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, have selected the Cincinnati neighborhood of Walnut Hills for the 2025 Community Makeover.

Now in its 16th year, the Community Makeover brings together Cincinnati’s most historic and iconic institutions alongside local community partners. By uniting volunteers from these organizations and the community, the initiative creates a transformative and sustainable impact on a Greater Cincinnati neighborhood while strengthening youth baseball and softball programs.

The 2025 Community Makeover will feature five sites within Walnut Hills plus Owl’s Nest Park in neighboring Evanston:

Frederick Douglass School – Cincinnati Public Schools

•  Redesigned playground, STEM lab, murals and garden for students
•  2627 Park Ave, Cincinnati, 45206

Dr. O’dell Owens Center for Learning – Cincinnati Public Schools

•  Urban Learning Garden and outdoor classroom
•  2825 Alms Place, Cincinnati, 45206

Bush Recreation Center – Cincinnati Recreation Commission

•  Outdoor beautification, indoor painting and upgrades
•  2640 Kemper Lane, Cincinnati, 45206

Ashland Recreation Area – Cincinnati Recreation Commission

•  New play equipment, walking trail, horticulture and entryway
•  2810 Ashland Ave, Cincinnati, 45206

Owl’s Nest Park in Evanston – Cincinnati Recreation Commission/Cincinnati Parks

•  Synthetic infield installation and ballfield upgrades
•  1997 Fairfax Ave, Cincinnati, 45207

Community Garden

•  New benches for students, raised bed planters, shade umbrellas and horticulture upgrades
•  2642 Park Avenue, Cincinnati, 45206

“Walnut Hills is excited to be selected for this year’s Community Makeover,” said Mona M. Jenkins, President of the Walnut Hills Area Council. “We appreciate all our partners and organizations who are willing to collaborate and invest in our neighborhood. The impact this project will have on our residents, especially our youth, is profound and will contribute to the long-term well-being of our community.”

Preliminary work will begin in the spring and the effort will culminate on Thursday, July 24 when more than 400 volunteers will join Walnut Hills community leaders for the day-long service project.

The success of each Community Makeover relies on engagement with neighborhood leaders, partners and businesses. Several local organizations, including the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation, Walnut Hills Area Council, and the Walnut Hills Business Group are already playing an active role. Other partners, including Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, Civic Garden Center and Urban Farming Initiative, are taking on an additional project, focusing on several Gilbert Avenue landscape medians to bring more enhanced green spaces to the neighborhood.

Walnut Hills Community Makeover partners

•  Lead partners: P&G, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati Reds, Reds Community Fund
•  Major partners: Cincinnati Children’s, GE Aerospace, Kroger
•  Civic partners: Cincinnati Recreation Commission, Cincinnati Public Schools
•  Neighborhood partners: Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation, Walnut Hills Area Council, Walnut Hills Business Group
•  Community partners: United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati ToolBank, OneSource, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, Civic Garden Center, Urban Farming Initiative

About Walnut Hills

Located just two miles northeast of downtown Cincinnati, Walnut Hills has been a hub of cultural, ethnic, religious, and socio-economic diversity since its founding in 1804. The neighborhood boasts a rich array of historic, cultural, and civic landmarks, including the Harriet Beecher Stowe House and Eden Park. Residents and visitors can engage with the community through the Walnut Hills Area Council and the Walnut Hills Business Group. Additionally, the neighborhood is home to a diverse mix of local businesses, community organizations, social services, schools, faith-based groups, and vibrant events.

About the Community Makeover

Since 2010, the Reds Community Fund and P&G have collaborated on the Community Makeover. In 2013, the partnership grew to include the Cincinnati Zoo and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and has continued to expand with the support of many additional partners and community organizations. In 2023, the Reds received Major League Baseball’s Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence, an annual honor given to an MLB team. This award recognized the 2022 Lincoln Heights Community Makeover. For more information, visit reds.com/Makeover.

COURTESY REDS MEDIA RELATIONS