Avista supports Cascade Community Pool’s efforts to make swimming safe for everyone

White City, Oregon – In Southern Oregon, a vital resource is making waves in water safety education, thanks to the support of the Avista Foundation.

When the Cascade Community Pool was built in White City in 1963, it was meant to be maintained and supported solely by the community. But pool maintenance is a lot to undertake by a group of volunteers, so the Eagle Point School District stepped in to operate the pool. It was transferred to the YMCA and then later returned to the school district.

“It was just being passed back and forth a lot, and in 1996, it became its own non-profit organization,” said Lynne Gilstrap, Cascade Community Pool board member.

Since then, it’s been a stable and busy community hub that Gilstrap and many others enjoy.

“I started taking my granddaughter to swim lessons there, and then they needed another board volunteer,” Gilstrap said, “and I raised my hand.”

The pool is a favorite among many. It maintains a comfortable temperature of 87°F year-round and features an accessibility lift, making it easier for individuals with limited mobility to enter and exit the water. Most of the other local pools are not this warm, and it makes it perfect for water mobility therapy,” Gilstrap said.

A retired schoolteacher and principal, Gilstrap says what she loves most about the pool is the joy it brings to the kids. In 2025, the swimming lesson program received a grant from the Avista Foundation.

“All the school districts bring their kids here,” Gilstrap said. “We have about 550 kids come through here every year.”

In small towns, access to a community pool with swimming lessons is more than just a nice perk; it’s an important public safety resource.

The Rogue Valley is home to not just a river but countless lakes and ponds and deep creeks, and the ocean is not far away. Offering swim lessons ensures that children learn essential life-saving skills early on, helping to prevent drowning and build confidence.

“Every third-grade child gets to come to us for water safety instruction,” Gilstrap said. “Some of the kids won’t get in the water on the first day, they are so scared. But at the end of the program, they just dive right in. Water safety is so important – it saves lives.”

The safety program teaches children how to best get out of the water or how to try and stay afloat, even if they can’t swim.

“It gives them an awareness of how to be safe around water,” Gilstrap said, adding that she’s lost family members to drowning. “I feel strongly that water safety is so important.”

People of all ages use the pool, she estimates about 3,000 each month.

“We have all kinds of people who come here to exercise or just have fun,” Gilstrap said. “We even have a 93-year-old who comes three times a week for water exercise. Now that’s impressive.”

At Avista, we recognize our unique position gives us the chance to contribute in an impactful way and make a real difference in people’s lives. Since 2002, the Avista Foundation has made grants totaling over $17 million to organizations that support vulnerable and limited income populations, education, and economic and cultural vitality. The foundation is a separate, non-profit organization established by Avista Corp., and does not receive funding from Avista Utilities’ customers through rates. For more information on grant applications and geographical areas covered, please visit avistafoundation.com.