Stage 1:
50m Pool
A Public Private Partnership
Adding a 50m Pool and Renovating Current Building
Amount Needed: $1.8 million
Our current mission is to create a state-of-the-art aquatic facility that prioritizes accessibility, ensuring swimmers of all abilities and backgrounds have the opportunity to thrive and enjoy the lifelong benefits of swimming.
Swim education reduces drowning risk by 88% in children ages 1-4, according to the CDC.
Early swim lessons teach lifesaving skills, such as floating, treading water, and safe water entry/exit.
Supervised swim environments, like Cady Way Pool, provide safe spaces for children to learn and practice water safety.
Swim lessons build water confidence in both children and parents, reducing fear and increasing safety awareness.
Built in 1966, the current Cady Way Pool is showing its age, and it no longer meets the community’s needs. The locker rooms are past due for refurbishing. We’re building an aquatic facility to match Showalter Field and surrounding athletic facilities in which the community can take pride.
Revitalizing Cady Way Park
We are excited to announce the renovation of the iconic Cady Way Pool and its surrounding recreational area. This long-anticipated project will revitalize a beloved community hub that has served Winter Park since 1962, bringing significant upgrades to both the facility and its amenities.
The renovation will introduce a new 50-meter competition pool, three NCAA/FHSAA competition-level beach volleyball courts, and enhanced green spaces, all while maintaining the current layout of the facility to preserve its Winter Park charm and create a nod to history. The improvements include upgrades to the pool and locker rooms, ensuring they continue to meet the needs of the community for years to come.
Scroll down to learn more or click to get our comprehensive guide.
BONUS: On our wishlist is to build a new building to provide classroom space, offices, and meeting space. This will be an additional fundraising goal at a later time.
The new pool will be a great addition to Cady Way, providing another amenity for our residents and breathing some new life into Cady Way Park. The public-private partnership between the City and Blue Dolfins Foundation will make Cady Way one of the premiere venues in Central Florida for years to come.
Current Pool Usage
Thousands of children and adults have learned to swim here.
CPR, water safety, and other life-saving courses are taught here.
Military, police, fire rescue, and lifeguards train here.
Winter Park High School and USA competitive swim teams train here. The pool is used daily by over 200 Winter Park families whose children swim on year-round swim teams.
In 1966, a World Record in the 100 Breaststroke was set here.
A 1996 Olympic swimmer got her start here.
Special Olympics and Down Syndrome Swimming train and have their swim meets here.
Generations of residents have swum, played, and attended the City’s summer camps here.
Hundreds of triathletes and masters swimmers train here yearly.
American Record Holders, national and international-level swimmers, and Olympic Trial Qualifiers train here.
The addition of Orlando Health’s support marks a significant milestone in the project, further solidifying its role as a cornerstone of community health, wellness, and recreation. The revitalized park, to be named the Orlando Health Aquatic Complex at Cady Way Park, is a step forward in creating a top notch facility for Winter Park residents to enjoy for generations to come.
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This is a public-private venture between the City of Winter Park and the Winter Park Blue Dolfins Foundation. The Foundation is paying for 100% of the construction of the pool, volleyball courts, buildings, and green space, as well as helping to cover the maintenance costs for the next 15 years. The City and its residents will benefit from this gift from the Foundation.
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While the current pool is an excellent teaching pool, due to its shallow end, it is limited in space. Being only 6 lanes, the number of occupants that can be in the pool at one time is restricted. The pool no longer meets the requirements to hold major swim meets. A new 50m pool will raise the standards of the pool, allow for swim meets to be held once again, provide ample space for lap swimming and swim team training, and more than double the number of occupants who can swim at one time. Meanwhile, the original pool will continue to provide space and an excellent teaching pool.
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After careful consideration, the new pool and volleyball courts will be placed in close proximity to the original pool. The footprint of the new project is minimized to avoid any disruption to football, soccer, and other athletic facilities.
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The footprint of the new pool and park is designed to only lose one tree in the process, meanwhile many new trees will be planted, resulting in a net gain of greenspace. We want to create a park like atmosphere for residents to enjoy in addition to the aquatic facilities. As for parking, the footprint has maintained all current parking spaces.
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Beach volleyball is one of the fastest-growing youth sports in the country and Winter Park will help lead the way by providing three regulation-level competition courts for beach volleyball. Available for training, competition, and family fun, the courts will be reserved similar to our tennis and pickleball courts.
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Absolutely to the extent the IRS allows! The Winter Park Blue Dolfins is a 501c3, EIN 88-1662511, Public Charity Status 509(a)(2). 100% of your donation goes to the completion of this project.
Donate Now
Yes! Your donation is tax-deductible!
The Winter Park Blue Dolfins Foundation, Inc. has 501c3, EIN 88-1662511, Public Charity Status 509(a)(2)
Zelle: BDSwimFoundation@gmail.com
This donation is tax deductible.
Venmo: @Blue_Dolfins
This donation is tax deductible.
Paypal: BDSwimFoundation@gmail.com
This donation is tax deductible.
Scan above with your phone to donate via your chosen service or choose the following:
Check: Payable to Winter Park Blue Dolfins Foundation, 201 Flame Ave, Maitland, FL 32751.
Wire Transfer: Call Joe at 407.937.9129 for arrangements.
Cash Donations: Cash donations delivered in person to Leslie Bergquist or Cathy Wertenberger.
Questions? Contact Us!