TAMPA, Fla. — The city of Tampa is renaming a playground after Harrison Boonstoppel.
What You Need To Know
A Tampa playground has been renamed to Harrison Boonstoppel All Abilities Playground
Harrison’s mother, his former teacher, and several others spoke during the renaming ceremony
Harrison was one of two people who killed during a 2023 shooting in Ybor City
He was one of two people killed, and 16 others were injured in an October 2023 shooting in Ybor City.
Dozens of people came to the newly renamed playground on Saturday, including family and friends.
Harrison’s mother, Brucie Boonstoppel, said this support means everything.
“The fact that guns took his life is the tragedy behind it,” she said. “But he was a victory story, and that’s what this park is celebrating.”
His former teacher, Patrick Morton, is one of the people who spoke at the ceremony.
He said Harrison is someone he will never forget.
“I want him to be remembered for just how he made others feel and how he approached life,” he said.
Morton said it’s the memories that keep Harrison with him, especially thoughts of him on the golf course, and his nickname, “Boonie.”
“Getting up on the driving range and being a tiny — at the time — high schooler just hitting absolute bombs,” he said. “We call them ‘Boonie Bombs.'”
Brucie said she sees signs of Harrison everywhere.
From his pictures to the butterflies lingering during the ceremony, Brucie said she knows Harrison is looking down on them.
“They’re stories and memories, they read differently,” she said. “I see it more now, I understand Harrison.”
In the aftermath of Harrison’s death, the Harrison Boonstoppel Foundation was created.
The foundation is dedicated to creating a safer future for kids through community action, education, and connection.