Diving into 60 Years of Community: The Heart of Cady Way Pool

For over six decades, Cady Way Pool has been more than just a swimming pool; it has been a place where lives are changed, families play, dreams are launched, and the community comes together. Beneath the shimmering surface of the water lies a legacy of hope, growth, and resilience—a legacy that we’re determined to preserve and expand for future generations.

This Giving Tuesday, as we look back on the incredible impact of this beloved pool, we are reminded of a few stories in particular that have unfolded here.

Stories like Coaches Joe Auer, Charlie Rose and Kim Schutzmeister Burke who discovered their passion for swimming in these waters, earned a college scholarship, and now coach, inspiring the next generation of swimmers.

Or stories like Winter Park Pines resident, Lisa Dowling, who grew up swimming here at Cady Way Pool. Now she has her three children diving in here, too.

From infant swim lessons, summer swim camp and swim team training, to CPR training and water rescue training for police and firefighters, Cady Way Pool is used continuously throughout the year.

Read on to see some of the many reasons why we are so passionate about this revitalization project.

✅ Special Olympics and Beyond: USA Down Syndrome Swimming

Winter Park High School graduate Lauren Bergquist was introduced swimming when she was only 2 years old as a way to strengthen her lungs after a bout with pneumonia. Lauren was instantly hooked. Training at Cady Way Pool, Lauren has become a superstar in the sport.

Competitive swimming has taken her to competitions all over the world, from Canada to Europe to Australia. She’s won several medals as a representative of the United States and owns 6 American Records.

✅ Swimming: A True Survival Skill

Cady Way Pool is a cornerstone of our community, having taught thousands the life-saving skill of survival in a state filled with pools, lakes, rivers, and surrounded by the ocean. Drowning is the #1 cause of death for children under the age of 4, and hundreds of Floridians drown every year.

We are doing our part to change this statistic. That’s why we wanted to share this story from Annette Snedaker, who had this experience at the beach with her young teenager, Jared:

Annette Snedaker with her son Jared

Yesterday at the beach, we had a big scare. It was a beautiful day and we were there to relax - just like any other beach day. Jared & his best friend went out- about chest high - and began throwing themselves in and over waves.

We were watching. They were playing… Until they weren’t. One was stuck, scared, and asking for help. A riptide had grabbed hold.

A lifeguard recognized the boys were NOT playing. And raced over. She paused. Then stopped. But wouldn’t take her eyes off them. Jared and his friend safely touched foot on sand and had begun exiting the water.

I said anxiously to her, still not realizing they had been caught in a riptide, “That’s my son! Is everything ok? Was it them you were after?”

“Which one is your son - the big one or the little one?”

“The big one.”

“The big one just saved the little one. He pulled him out of a riptide.”

She could see my paralysis as I stood there processing how differently the day could have gone. OMG.

“It happens. It’s ok. They’re ok,” she reassured me. “But if waves are coming in criss cross, assume it’s a rip-tide and stay waist-deep. If feet are touching, you’ll be fine.”

Jared was next to me at this point and I said, “Buddy, do you realize what just happened??”

“I think so. I think I took him out of a riptide? He couldn’t move.”

“Yes, you did. You just quite possibly saved your best friend’s life. It doesn’t always end like that.”

A hundred people die from riptides each year.

I woke up today with an INCREDIBLY thankful heart for my son. I couldn’t stop thinking about how he didn’t think twice - at 14 years of age - to grab his friend’s hand and pull him the heck out of there. I’m sure it took courage. And thank God he feels comfortable in the water thanks to years of swim.

Jared starting swimming at Cady Way pool several years ago, and we are so proud of his efforts!

✅ The Gold Standard of Swimming in the United States of America

For decades, Cady Way Pool has trained athletes for Winter Park High School’s swim team, which has claimed 26 high school state team championships, over a 150 individual event state titles, and over 300 All American swimmers. In addition to accolades, the pool has enabled hundreds of swimmers to attend college on swimming scholarships.

Winter Park High School Hall of Fame member Chris Emig verbalized just how dominant the swim program has been in his Hall of Fame induction speech. It’s worth the listen, and, yes, you will get chills!

✅ The Legacy Continues

Cady Way Pool continues to provide a safe, welcoming space for lessons, training, and recreation. With the addition of a new 50m pool providing additional pool space, the City can provide that many more swim lessons and opportunities for young swimmers. Plus it’s an excellent gathering space for families and the community to connect for the next 60 years—and beyond.

Let’s dive into the future of Cady Way Pool. The stories we’ve shared here are just the beginning. Your donation is 100% tax deductible, so thank you for considering us on Giving Tuesday. What legacy will you help us create?

With the addition of a 50m Myrtha Pool and a total renovation of the existing pool area, Cady Way will once again be one of the premier aquatic facilities in Central Florida. But it will go far beyond being a training facility—it will also allow for many more community events to be held there.

📌 Even more important than athletic greatness is the access to learning to swim, a survival skill that every child should have. When drowning is the number one cause of death for children under age 4, we believe it is essential that ample swim space for lessons be provided.

Our Blue Dolfins Foundation is making this happen with the City through a mixture of private and corporate funding from well-known community partners. However, more private dollars are needed.

📌 Donations are 100% tax-deductible and can be made in almost any form: cash, checks, Venmo, or even stock gifts. Gift some stock before the end of the year and take advantage of the deduction while avoiding those gains!

👉 Contact Anne Gustin for more info about how to arrange this.

Thank you for your excitement about this project and for being a part of the Blue Dolfins family, 50+ Years Strong!