WATERVILLE — Friends of Quarry Road will celebrate the dedication of the Harold Alfond Snowmaking Center at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at the center, currently known as the maintenance building on Quarry Road.

In 2014, the Harold Alfond Foundation awarded the Friends of Quarry Road a $285,000 challenge grant to complete core infrastructure needs such as improved parking, lighting and snowmaking. Friends of Quarry Road have raised more than $224,000 from residents, institutions and other foundations as a match, showing broad community support for Quarry Road Trails, according to a news release from Ellen Wells, community wellness team leader at Inland Hospital.

This celebration will be held as a thank you to all of the people and organizations that have been a part of making Quarry Road Trails.

In addition to snow-making, the grant funding supported several infrastructure upgrades, including electrical service for night skiing, security, completing a welcome center, trail enhancement, additional grooming equipment, and improvements to the entry road. These infrastructure improvements help area residents and visitors access the Quarry Road Trails during all four seasons with activities such as walking, biking and canoeing.

The funding also has helped Friends of Quarry Road plan for the future of the site by funding a master planning process with a series of public meetings, on-line surveys and site planning activities.

With the dedication of the Harold Alfond Snowmaking Center, Quarry Road Trails joins a small number of Nordic ski centers across the country that have snow-making capability, including the Von Trapp Family Lodge in Vermont and the Olympic Sports Complex in Lake Placid, New York. By drawing water from the Messalonskee Stream, Quarry Road is able to make snow on three kilometers of trails by early December. Snow-making has established Quarry Road as a reliable venue and has attracted skiers from across New England.

The city of Waterville owns and manages Quarry Road. Sales of season ski passes by the city have completely offset the cost of making snow, making the facility revenue-neutral, according to the release.

Friends of Quarry Road raises additional funds from donations and contributions from annual sponsors. This year’s sponsors include Central Maine Motors, Inland Hospital, MaineGeneral Health, Maine State Credit Union, Colby College, Consigli Construction, and Grondin Construction, at gold level; Morin Orthodontics at silver level; and Marden’s Surplus & Salvage and Sappi North America as bronze level sponsors.

All are welcome at this free community event. For more information, visit quarryroad.org or call 680-4744.