While upgrades to the Benoni landmark continue, Forrest-Smith and a group of interested parties who have been involved with the Bunny Park saga walked through the facility on Friday to celebrate “the end”.
Forrest-Smith, who is a Ward 27 committee member, said Friday marked a day she never thought would happen: the removal of the rabbits from the facility, with the exception of the 50-odd which have been confined to an enclosure near the Pretoria Road entrance.
The City Times saw one or two rabbits roaming the park.
Ward 27 Clr Jacques Meiring said traps to catch these rabbits will remain in place and that those caught will be sterilised and rehomed.
With non-alcoholic drink in hand, the visitors reminisced about their struggles at the park and some of their encounters with the animals.
Noeline Clare-Talbot, who was involved in exposing wrongs at the park from the start, said she is still suffering the effects of her work.
In January last year, she shattered her foot after she fell into a hole. She was responding to a section of the park on Miles Sharp Street after community members said bunnies had died there.
Despite having had two operations on her foot, she is proud of her work.
“I will always be reminded of the work here [due to the injury], but it was necessary,” said Clare-Talbot.
Those present also praised efforts by twins Kiki and Oakley Brooklyn, who are six years old.
They carried bales of hay and food – and did many other tasks – while helping their grandmother, ForrestSmith. The Bunny Park is expected to reopen in June 2018.
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