CINCINNATI — It’s the 16th annual community makeover day hosted by the Reds, P&G and the Cincinnati Zoo. One Reds player stepped in to help and said he feels it’s his responsibility to give back to the community that has given so much to him.

What You Need To Know

In the 16th annual community makeover day, Walnut Hills was the chosen neighborhood to get a facelift

Between beautification, an urban garden, a new playground and more, soon the kids of Walnut Hills will have lots of new spaces to explore

Reds pitcher Brent Suter spent time helping out as well

Under the sweltering July sun, more than 500 volunteers are spending their Thursday giving back.

“Community makeover day is one of our favorite days for our family,” Reds pitcher Brent Suter said.

Including one very special guest, Cincinnati native and Reds pitcher Brent Suter.

Brent Suter along with his wife and kids pose for a picture at the Community Makeover Day. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

“Here we are in Walnut Hills, where my wife and I first lived when we first got married, a very special neighborhood for us,” Suter said. “And here we are building beds to plant trees and landscaping.”

Suter helped the Reds Community Fund get involved with Sleep In Heavenly Peace last year for the community makeover day, after his dad became involved with the organization.

Suter and his two sons test out a bed made by Sleep In Heavenly Peace. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

“Sleep In Heavenly Peace is an organization that’s really near and dear to our hearts,” Suter said. “My dad has fully bought in his retirement, has been almost completely consumed by Sleep In Heavenly Peace and the good work that they do. So just so happy with, you know, the turnout today and how many beds we’re making.”

A volunteer constructs a bed frame. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

But building beds isn’t the only thing these volunteers are doing. Between beautification, an urban learning garden, a soon-to-be installed playground, and murals, it’s all hands on deck to do as much work in one day as possible.

“It’s just seeing their neighborhoods and their parks, you know, come back to life,” Charley Frank the executive director for the Reds Community Fund said. “It’s incredibly rewarding, but, you know, it’s important to note that this doesn’t just happen because of the Reds. It happens because of all of these Cincinnati, Greater Cincinnati corporate and community leaders that all believe in the same thing.”

Volunteers paint a shed in a new Walnut Hills garden. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

For Suter, it’s all about giving back to the community that has shaped him.

“We, you know, live and breathe Cincinnati,” Suter said. “It’s these people, it feels like one big family here for us. And so, just growing up a Reds fan, growing up a Cincinnati sports fan, you bought into the teams. But more than that, you bought into the community.”