CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds, P&G and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden along with Cincinnati Children’s and GE Aerospace are preparing for the "2024 Community Makeover" project in Cincinnati's Bond Hill neighborhood, with the help of some wild friends.
To prepare for the project, the zoo's horticulture team cleared part of the project area for a learning garden earlier this week, but the plants taken out aren't heading to the mulcher. Instead, the zoo took them for a feast for its residents.
“The plant material that we took out will not go to waste,” said Cincinnati Zoo’s Browse Coordinator Patrick Gainer in a news release. “Almost everything there was edible and invasive, so not only are we getting rid of an invasive species, but instead of just throwing it away in a landfill or turning it into mulch, we’re bringing it to the Zoo to feed to the animals.”
Gainer collects similar browse from area businesses for the zoo's Fresh Environmental Enrichment Diet.
“The harvest from Bond Hill is particularly exciting because the overgrown area will become a learning garden for students at the new Xavier Jesuit Academy, similar to this one at Rockdale Elementary School in Avondale and this one in Madisonville,” said Gainer. “That’s only one part of the amazing makeover that will happen in August.”
There are four Community Makeover projects for 2024 including:
- Installation of a STEM/STEAM lab, medical and art spaces, an upgraded kitchen and an Urban Learning Garden at Xavier Jesuit Academy
- Upgrades to Bond Hill Food Pantry Upgrades
- An upgraded playground, renovated outdoor classroom, STEM/STEAM lab, murals and other projects at Bond Hill Academy
- Upgrades to the Bond Hill Community Center and nearby ballfield at Cincinnati Recreation Commission