Apple Dome recreation facility in Berwick set for $5M expansion

Construction will soon begin on a $5 million expansion to the recreation facility known as the Apple Dome because of its location in the heart of Nova Scotia apple country.

"We've had corporations jump in, we've had individuals jump in and we've had donations big and small," said John Nichols, chairman of the building fund for Phase 2 of the Kings Mutual Century Centre in Berwick, N.S.

"We've had a huge number of people step up."

The facility currently houses an arena, meeting rooms and a skate shop. The additions will include a new curling club, learning and fitness centres and two new dressing rooms, including a female dressing room.

The federal and provincial governments are each kicking in $1.6 million. The Municipality of the County of Kings and the Town of Berwick have also committed money to the project.

A number of small groups in the community have been fundraising for several years to raise additional money to complete the expansion.

"We are the benefactors of a lot of volunteer support," said Berwick Mayor Don Clarke. "There has been huge amounts of volunteer time put into this building, which is very well run by a volunteer board."

Running in the black

Known as the Apple Dome, the $13-million facility was opened in 2010. While some new arenas in the province are struggling to make ends meet, the 900-seat rink has been a success story.

"I don't think that there is any way you can put up a building like this if you are running any kind of a mortgage on it," said Nichols. "We are very fortunate that we are standing here today in a building that cost $13 million and has no debt whatsoever and runs in the black."

Construction of Phase 2 will begin later this month and is expected to be completed next spring. 

But the fundraising efforts will continue and will now focus on Phase 3. A space behind the building is being considered as a new exhibition site for Kings County. Currently the county does not have an exhibition.