District Four Commissioner Patty Sheehan installed a Pink Bunny statue at Lake Como in August of 2013 to commemorate her aide and friend, Chase Smith, who passed away that year. Smith would dress up as a pink bunny each year at Easter to participate in neighborhood Easter egg hunts. Sheehan also had another statue placed in Colonialtown, and pink tabebuia trees planted at Lake Como and Langford Park.
The original bunny, placed at Lake Como, was vandalized in 2015 and was the recipient of a few hate mails from local residents. It became apparent, because of the complaints, that the statues were zoned incorrectly as smaller memorial items like benches and trees, and instead had to go through a longer approval process with the City. Three years later, the bunny statues are slated to be voted on by City Council for final approval.
All upkeep for the statues is paid for via the Chase Smith Memorial Fund, a Strengthen Orlando account.
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