Love for Onepu Community Park is pouring in along with offers of funding.

Share the Love for Onepu campaign organiser Sarah van der Boom says along with support have come offers of funding that present a way forward for those wanting to retain public access to the park.

'As a result of the recent media, people have come forward saying they'd be happy to put money toward it.

'They might put in $100,000 or $200,000 each to purchase the park as a private investment, with the philanthropic goal of maintaining public access to the park.”

Park founder Bill Clark considers a group of around 20 investors is ideal.

So far, after just a few phone calls, he said he had received investment interest totalling about $400,000.

Bill says it's a sound investment that will also have significant community benefit.

'I have had a local chartered accountant run through the numbers and 8.45 percent (return) over nine years was the figure he came up with.”

Sarah says there have also been several offers from people to gift money.

'I've gone from feeling very despondent to feeling quite optimistic,” she says.

'We really just want to test the idea out.”

Bill says they plan to begin a Givealittle page.

'If we succeed in raising enough funds, we will form an Onepu Park charitable trust to take over the recreational aspect of running the park and paying for the rates and insurance. We are optimistic that there would be a budget from Whakatāne District Council to provide support for the running of the park.”

Onepu Community Park has been established over the past 12 years on 72 hectares of privately owned land, 60ha of which is planted in radiata pine.

Earlier this year, Norwegian pulp and paper company Norske Skog sold the property to Shane Le Prou, who has since put it on the market and says it will be closed to the public as of mid-October.

The park has established trails that are well used by Whakatāne mountain bikers, a restored wetland, arboretum and donated artwork. It is popular with dog walkers and wheelchair accessible.

The park has been subject to thousands of hours of hard work by volunteers, funding from charitable trusts and investment from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Several councillors and Mayor Judy Turner have suggested a partnership with other councils or even a public-private partnership could be a way forward.

Expressions of interest in either investing or making a donation can be made to sarah@cheekyrooster.co.nz

-Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air