‘Dystopian’ Bunny Park website developers say it’s in the name of conservation and education

“Terrifying” and “gloomy” is how former Benoni resident Rose Kingston described www.bunnypark.co.za when she stumbled upon the website dedicated to the council-owned facility.

Kingston was, in fact, so perturbed she contacted the Benoni City Times.

“Having grown up in Benoni, from time to time, I take a trip down memory lane, searching various memorable places,” she said.

“Imagine my horror when I clicked on bunnypark.co.za to find hardly any pictures of the park and a most bizarre art competition. Who in their right mind came up with the Bunny Park Reflections Art & Story Contest: With a view to Dystopian 2066?

“Do the developers know what ‘dystopian’ means? The definition is an imagined state or society where there is great suffering or injustice.”

Responding to questions about the website, the spokesperson for the ARC Recovery Centre, Rynfield, listed as the sole sponsor of the site, said clinging to childhood memories, fostering a connection to family dynamics and celebrating one of the city’s beloved landmarks prompted the team to create a website dedicated to the park.

The dystopian images depicting post-apocalyptic scenes of children interacting with what is perceived to be some of the park’s animal residents have piqued the interest of the likes of Kingston, asking what the site’s purpose is.

According to the spokesperson, who did not want to be named, the domain was purchased in 2014 but remained dormant.

“Following extensive planning and development, which started in mid-2023, the website went live last February,” he said.

Reputable
He explained that the site focuses on the Bunny Park to preserve its history, celebrate its cultural importance and keep the community informed about current developments and community-driven projects.

“We see the park as a symbol of local pride, a facility where families can connect with nature, learn about conservation and appreciate shared heritage,” he said.

“The website was primarily human-curated and grounded in reputable historical sources, like newspaper archives and statements from the CoE and community groups.

“Artificial intelligence tools refined and clarified collected information, thus helping to maintain accuracy and an engaging tone. However, we did not rely solely on AI. Our team compiled, checked and polished the content.”

Speaking of the link between the recovery centre, part of the My Rehab network, and the Bunny Park, the team said the facility reflects its holistic approach.

“While we primarily focus on treatment and counselling, we believe in community engagement by supporting local resources that enhance mental well-being, family life and educational opportunities.”

9th Floor
“The site boasts an additional AI-powered feature called 9th Floor. This platform allows community members to share and find resources, which aligns with our mission of fostering a healthier, more connected community.”

The website offers local government assistance where residents can find ward councillor information, understand municipal by-laws and connect with the correct CoE departments.

Other specialised AI guides focus on mental health support, animal welfare and other community concerns.

“These guides were trained on official documents and local history to provide accurate and relevant advice,” said the spokesperson.

“To combat rabbit abandonment at the park, 9th Floor connects people who want to surrender bunnies to those willing to adopt, thus preventing the park from being over-burdened.”

While the site features historic pictures taken at the park, with a call for more photographic memories to be shared with them, visitors to the domain were left scratching their heads about generated images depicting a park in ruin.

“We have embraced a slightly dystopian aesthetic through our imagery to encourage the public to think about the park’s future as part of a Bunny Park Reflections initiative,” he said.

“Looking to 2066, the park’s centenary, it is designed to provoke discussions about conservation, changes in urban development and how we can preserve open spaces like the Bunny Park despite ongoing global challenges.

“It is not a forecast but a creative prompt to inspire community awareness and proactive action.”

‘Bunny whisperer’ unimpressed
Tania Forrest-Smith of The Furry Friends group, instrumental in the revamp of the park in the interest of the safety of the animals, said she was approached to assist in supplying the creators with factual information about the park.

“To ensure that information on the site is accurate and factual, I obliged. I was shocked to see ‘watered-down’ information about the highly contagious rabbit haemorrhagic viral disease that wiped out the park’s bunny population in 2023 and is still claiming lives. The information claims the metro implemented protocols, which has not happened.

“The cutesy AI-generated animal guides also create a false narrative of a facility where animal welfare is at the core of its operations. The truth is the animals are not well cared for and, therefore, not happy critters.”

Metro responds
CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the city is aware of the independently developed website addressing the Bunny Park’s history and the viral outbreak.

“This website was neither developed nor sanctioned by the city and does not reflect our official views, policies or communications,” he said.

“The opinions and information presented on the site are solely those of its creator.”

He explained that under the SA Constitution, individuals or entities do not require permission from local government to create independent content about municipal facilities, on condition that curators of these sites do not use municipal logos, proprietary content or otherwise imply an official endorsement.

“In the case of this website, there is no indication that the site has received any such permission and, therefore, the views and interpretations on the website do not represent the city’s position,” said Dlamini.

“We fully recognise the right of private individuals and organisations to engage with and comment on matters of local interest, including those relating to municipal-owned facilities. We support open public discourse and community engagement.

“However, when a website discusses municipal facilities, it is important that the information is accurate and any references to official city resources or branding are not misleading.”

Dlamini concluded by saying the CoE will review the content on the website to ensure its information is not presented in a manner which could mislead the public or misrepresent CoE policies.

“We reserve our right to take appropriate action should any discrepancies come to light,” he said.

“Corrective measures may include a formal request to remove or amend the offending content.”

What do you think of www.bunnypark.co.za? Share your comments with us at jani@caxton.co.za

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