Sarah Plombon has organized a "splash-a-thon" to raise money for a water park designed for children with special needs. (Courtesy of Sarah Plombon)
The sprayground is a joint project between the Joey Pizzano Memorial Fund, named after a 6-year-old boy with special needs who drowned in 1998, and the Fairfax County Park Authority.
Plombon knows the Pizzano family from attending Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish and School in Vienna, and she has volunteered with a JPMF splash program that teaches children with disabilities how to be safe in and around the water.
That’s the idea behind the sprayground, too, and is why Plombon organized the fundraising event. She got Vienna Aquatic Club to conduct a splash-a-thon as well, and that swim club collected $1,300 for the sprayground by citizens donating a flat fee or pledging money per laps swum. Dunn Loring also is involved in the fundraiser.
“We figured a splash-a-thon would be a great way to raise money,” said Plombon, whose pool was set to conduct its event during its Tuesday morning practice. “But it’s more like the awareness factor of it. We just want it to be out there so people know about it.
“As a swimmer, I spent most of my time at a pool in the summer. Not having that opportunity, I don’t understand it sometimes. I want to give these kids somewhat of the same experience.”
The fully accessible sprayground, considered one of the first of its kind in the country, will feature a 6,700-square-foot water play area with a Chesapeake Bay theme because of the good times that Joey Pizzano spent with his family on the Chesapeake, said his mother, Paola. Sprayground admission will be free.
Pizzano said the plans include a water maze with changing patterns, a crab boat and other features that appeal to a variety of sensory experiences. The park also will include a fully accessible tree house and other playground equipment.
“Her initiative was extremely inspiring,” Paola Pizzano said of Plombon’s fundraising efforts. “She got the whole ball rolling. Calling it a splash-a-thon was the best idea in the whole wide world because it just correlated to well. These children can be successful in the water and may not necessarily swim but they’re having fun. Water can be such a great equalizer for a lot of kids.”
If any Washington area swim teams are interested in running fundraisers of their own, they can contact the Pizzanos at info@jpmf.org. Donations to the sprayground project can be made at jpmf.org. Donors can specify with which swim club they are affiliated.
“We’re hoping ‘Our Special Harbor Sprayground’ will be a model for others to replicate nationwide,” said Pizzano, who has eight children, three with special needs. “I don’t know of any other thing like it.”
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