$2 million committed to Mariners Centre expansion

The Municipality of the District of Yarmouth (MODY) has announced it will commit $2 million to the Mariners Centre expansion project and is also matching funds committed by the county's other two municipal units towards the former YMCA building.

The municipality says its investment comes as part of successful Steering Committee efforts on plans for the expansion; where members from all three municipal units narrowed down the services and spaces needed by the community and the capital investment it would take from municipal, provincial, federal and community partners to reach this goal.

The Municipality of the District of Yarmouth has also committed to match investments of the Town of Yarmouth and the Municipality of Argyle, who have each committed $75,000 towards the re-opening of 275 Main Street as a bridge location for aquatics and community recreation. MODY will also contribute $75,000.

The town of Yarmouth purchased the former YMCA building last year after the facility closed following years of financial struggle. The town said it would need the support of the other local municipal units to push forward.

In a media release, the

Municipality of Yarmouth says the option to pursue

275 Main St. as the bridge between the former YMCA facilities closure and the expansion at the Mariners Centre was decided at the Bridge Subcommittee meeting on Feb. 12, “after necessary due diligence was carried out regarding other options.”

This decision was ratified at a Mariners Centre Expansion Steering Committee on Feb. 18.

“Council made both decisions in tandem as the bridge solution of reopening 275 Main St. leads to our overarching goal of a modern Mariners Centre expansion,” says Warden John Cunningham. “To avoid losing sight of our larger goal, we are showing the community that we are invested in the success of the expansion and in the success of the community at large.”

The Bridge Subcommittee continues work on further details surrounding the reopening of 275 Main St. and the Mariners Centre Expansion Steering Committee will reconvene on March 4 at

3:30 p.m. to refine expansion plans.

To view approved minutes, meeting documents and watch meeting videos from the Mariners Centre Expansion Steering Committee, the Bridge Subcommittee or the New Build Subcommittee, visit the Mariners Centre website at www.marinerscentre.com.