When parents at Gemini Elementary School heard there wasn’t money in the school district’s budget to repair a dilapidated playground, they took matters into their own hands.
The Gemini Parent Teacher Organization hopes to raise $50,000 to replace the school’s south playground, which has been off-limits to students since the beginning of this school year.
“It was deemed unsafe, unsuitable for the kids to play on,” said Stacey Zabinski, parent to two students at Gemini and co-chair of a May 4 event called “Nacho Your Average Fundraiser” to support the playground.
The school determined it would be more cost-effective to rebuild rather than repair the equipment, but the money had to come from somewhere. That’s when the PTO stepped in, and decided that all monies raised by the group throughout the school year would go toward funding a new playground.
That includes the usual annual events like a jog-a-thon and yearbook sales, and a spaghetti dinner that was held earlier this year. About $9,000 has been raised so far.
Up next is “Nacho Your Average Fundraiser,” organized specifically to raise money for the playground effort.
The special event runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. May 4 at Up the Creek Farms, a popular wedding and event venue in Malabar. Jennifer Mitz, another Gemini parent who is co-chairing the event, said tickets are $75 per person and include food, beverages, live music games and raffles.
The fundraiser is open to the public, and Zabinski and Mitz said they hope to rally community support around the playground effort.
“One of the reasons we are so invested is that my husband grew up in Melbourne Beach and is a Gemini alum,” Zabinski said.
Several sponsorship levels are also available, as well as private “VIP” tables. As of last week, about half the event’s tickets were sold.
Demolition of the old playground should start in the next few weeks, and Zabinski pointed out that salt water and harsh weather take a toll on any playground equipment.
“We are beachside so stuff just doesn’t hold up like it would mainland,” she said.
The closed playground served students in fourth through sixth grades, as well as the afterschool program. And parents aren’t the only ones helping raise money for its replacement.
“There’s been a huge effort by individual students and several have had their own bake sales,” Zabinski said.
Students have contributed about $300 to so far, she said. They are also helping plan the future playground, and some have made renderings of what kind of equipment they’d like to see.
“So the kids will be very much included in this project,” Zabinski said.
Tickets for “Nacho Your Average Fundraiser” can be purchased online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nacho-average-fundraiser- tickets-43366445205. n
