Uproar over Bunny Park — public jumps in with ideas to save park

It was one of a multitude of comments received on the City Times Facebook page after two articles were published regarding conditions of the animals in park.

When asked what changes should be implemented, the public reacted with several ideas, including charging an entrance fee, setting up self-sustainable fruit and/or vegetable gardens, handing over the maintenance of the park to other entities, involving local children and privatising the park.

•  Julie Thomson: “Maybe allocate a section to schools wildlife clubs, each school is responsible for the upkeep of their section.”
•  John Chamberlain: “I think there is place for a food forest to be planted so kids could pick apples or plums off trees in the future. Sustainable gardening practices could be demonstrated as learning activities for everyone who visits.

Providing its own food for the animals and the excess could be used to feed the homeless in the area?”

•  Angelique Barnard: “1. I agree, entrance fee is a must here.”

“2. I also think maybe a campaign should be run (or get together) once a month where people can come and see what progress was made (with donations) and help with further donations towards the next project.

“3. Maybe get some companies to donate items as prizes to be used in raffle tickets and lucky draws every month. 4. Also set up a volunteer group which can help out on a weekly basis by getting enough food 5. If they can set up the donations “fund” I think a board at the entrance should be put up to show how much was collected for the month…” said Barnard.

•  Charlene Aschmann: “1. A fee should be paid monthly from the craft market held.”

“2. The theme park rides bring in money.

“3. The little café, although not well stocked, must make a percentage of profit.

“4. Municipal monies.

“Urgent action does however need to take place, to keep this land mark around for our children to get the enjoyment we all used to get from visiting the bunnies and animals,” Aschmann.

•  Arhlene Glenday: “Why not gift the Bunny Park to the SPCA of Benoni, allow them to run it, give them funding for maintenance and veterinary services but still charge a fee to get in?”

“It could also create employment opportunities,” said Glenday.

•  Richard Mudie: “Someone should buy it and privatise the park, get it back to the high standard it was charge a fair price for entry.”
•  Peter Hannah: “Agree with entrance fee and more security to ensure no chasing of rabbits and peacocks.”

“Maybe have a voluntary committee to manage the park,” said Hannah.

•  Elizabeth Ann Chapman: “What I suggest is a group be formed and with the SPCA, a meeting needs to be held with the Council.”
•  Dale Goodwin: “I agree with an entrance fee.”

“But like everything else in this country, how can we be sure that the money will actually be used for what it is intended for and that there won’t be long fingers in the till?” said Goodwin.

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) was approached regarding the conditions in the park and said an entrance fee cannot be implemented.

“According to the by-laws related to parks and open spaces, no entrance fees are being charged at parks,” said Themba Gadebe, EMM spokesperson.

“Further upgrading will take place as soon as funds become available.”

City Times asked EMM why many of the bunnies are not neutered.

“The EMM’s Parks and Cemeteries Division, with the assistance of the local SPCA, have started discussions on how to reduce the number of bunnies in the Bunny Park,” said Gadebe.

“Only a small number of bunnies will remain and be neutered.”

EMM was approached regarding donations to the park, but no comment had been received at the time of going to press.

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