Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Parkland memorial garden blooms at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
Yellow, orange and blue flowers bloom in front of a new marker at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
The flowers are part of a new garden that pays tribute to the 17 students and faculty members who were fatally gunned down at the school on February 14.
Called “Project Grow Love,’’ the garden was officially unveiled Sunday along with a new logo for the school before a crowd of students, faculty and residents of Parkland.
Victoria Gonzalez, a Stoneman Douglas student, helped create the garden with teacher Ronit Reoven. Gonzalez’s boyfriend Joaquin “Guac’’ Oliver was one of the shooting victims.
“Since our school has not done much to memorialize our 17, Mrs. Reoven and I have taken it upon ourselves to start #ProjectGrowLove,’’ she said on Twitter after the garden was planted over Christmas Eve.
On Sunday, she added, “Thank you for all of the wonderful love and support towards #ProjectGrowLove,’’ Gonzalez shared on social media. “I’m so grateful for the way it makes this community feel.”
Ryan Petty, the father of Alaina Petty, 14 who was killed at the school, attended the presentation Sunday.
“Today is a new day at MSD High School,’’ he shared on Twitter with a video of the garden. “New look and new logo.”
The garden is located at Holmberg and Pine Island roads. It also features butterflies etchings, each named for one of the victims. Bright colorful rocks with their names and #MSDStrong also fill the garden bed.
At night, a row of solar angels glow, lighting up the grounds for passersby and drivers.