Ribbon cutting for Growing Dome at Waterville's Alfond Youth Center

It's another addition to what officials call the crown jewel in the service to Central Maine children.

A ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday afternoon marked the grand opening of the Mary Nash Beaupre Growing Dome at Waterville's Alfond Youth Center.

The Dome is more than 40 feet in diameter with soil beds inside and out.

Mary passed away unexpectedly a few years ago...

After that her family and members of the community banded together to raise funds to build it in her honor.

Nearly a half million dollars was raised.

"She was a woman of humility and great faith and she didn't like the limelight, but she's not with us today and we made an executive decision to put her name right out front where it belongs in my opinion as her son," said John Beaupre.

"It means so much because we put in so much time into seeing her name written on something like this that benefits so many people," said Mary's grandson Isaac Pendleton. "And all the grants and everybody who has supported us it's really, it's touching."

The family says the fundraising efforts will continue with money going to the dome's upkeep and helping the overall mission of the youth center.