Parkland's structure is set for demolition.
Six years after the tragic Parkland school shooting in Florida that claimed 17 lives, the demolition process for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School commenced on a Friday. Families of the victims were invited to watch the initial demolition and, if desired, even take a souvenir piece from the structure. The work is anticipated to span several weeks, per officials' timeline, and finish before the 3300 students and pupils return from their summer break in August. Many of them were in elementary school when the gunshots rang out.
The building had been cordoned off after the event and was used as evidence against the shooter. The jury examined floors littered with bullets and bloodstains, with everything remaining identical to the state immediately after the event: books and laptops laid on desks, wilted Valentine's flowers, and teddy bears amidst shattered glass.
The Broward County School Board has not yet determined what will occupy the space left by the building. Educators suggested a practice field for the music band and other teams, connected to it via a landscaped pathway and a nearby memorial site established a few years ago. Many of the slain students were band members. Some parents advocated for a larger tribute site.
