Certifications make Aquatic Maintenance Team more effective

With the addition of the Crossroads Splash Pad coming on-line in July, it is essential that "Parks Maintenance Division" staff be a key part of the Parks & Recreation Department's Aquatic Maintenance team. Nate Jansky, Carlos Ochoa, John Smith, Mario Luna, Rene Romero and Ruben Cruz have earned their Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) certification and are now properly trained and certified to work on Aquatic facilities.

Prior to these staff receiving this certification, the Parks & Rec. Dept. only had a few staffers who possess the Aquatic Facility Operator certification. This training has provided our staff with Health Dept. Requirements training, Water Chemistry training, Identifying Chemical types for Sanitizing and Treating Water, and understanding  Water Collection Systems, Pumps and proper water Filtration.
 
“This training is a good example of the professional training Town management is committed to providing our staff,” said Marana’s Parks and Recreation Director Jim Conroy.

The Town’s other splash pad at the Marana Heritage River Park opened earlier this month to great popularity. Anticipation for the facility’s opening was so great that the Facebook post announcing the opening had more than 25,000 views.

“Facilities like the Splash Pad are a great way for families to engage in safe water fun, and the popularity is a true testament to the positive impact public parks can have on our community,” Conroy said.

The Marana Pool at Ora Mae Harn Park is due to open on May 29 and offers free admission as well as seven swim lanes, a diving bay and ramada-style seating. The pool is 25 yards in length and has depths ranging from 3 to 12 feet.

The Town is still looking for a few lifeguards for the pool.

Splash Pad Hours- Daily;  8am-7pm
Splash Pad Rules

Ina Interchange Progress Report

The Ina Interchange Project is not only a major project for Marana, but for the entire region. The project continues to be on schedule and quite a bit has been accomplished since the project began in 2017.

Crews have completed the removal both bridges that traffic travelling on I-10 over Ina Road. One of the primary goals of the project is to now have Ina travel over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad, which will eliminate the need for traffic to stop for trains, speeding up travel, as well as making the area safer.  

A portion of the new Ina Road bridge has been completed, with the bridge over the new eastbound travel lanes complete. By completing this half of the bridge, it allows workers to complete the construction without working over live traffic or restricting freeway travel.

The new eastbound I-10 pavement is complete and in place. With the pavement in place, it has allowed all interstate traffic in both directions to be moved to that new pavement. Currently there are three lanes of traffic in each direction, and at completion this same pavement will carry four lanes of eastbound traffic.

Another portion of the project is the construction of two new bridges that will carry Ina Road over the Santa Cruz River. One of the new is complete and is now carrying the traffic on West Ina in both directions. After completion of the first new bridge, it allowed for the previous bridge to be removed. Currently work has begun on the second and upon its completion, the two bridges will each hold two lanes of traffic.

The bridges are not the only work being done on Ina Road west of the freeway. Crews have begun their work to widen Ina Road to two lanes in each direction from I-10 west to Silverbell Road. Ina Road is already two lanes in each direction east of I-10 and this expansion, along with the bridge, will give Ina Road a consistent flow the entire way.

A large amount of work has already gone into constructing the bridge supports and infrastructure for the remaining portion of the bridge over I-10 and the railroad tracks. Once completed, the bridge will connect with Ina Road east of the railroad tracks. Crews have also begun developing the on and off ramps that will connect I-10 and Ina Road. Additionally, workers have started to build the new westbound lanes of I-10.

Upon the project’s completion there will be four lanes of interstate highway in each direction.

The project is due to be completed in early 2019 and is a joint project by ADOT, the Town of Marana, Pima County, Pima Association of Governments, and the RTA.

Learn more on the project website.

MPD Officer earns award for her work in schools

Marana Police Officer Melissa Larkin was named the Law Related Education Officer of the Year by the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education. The award recognizes exceptional contributions of Arizona police and probation officers in furthering education and understanding of the role of the law in a democratic society.

Ofc. Larkin is the School Resource Officer at Marana Middle School and was praised by the organization for "promoting access to justice for all Arizonans."

The award focuses on public awareness on the contributions that Ofc. Larkin provides to the school, as well as the community as a whole.

Larkin was also named the 2016 School Resource Officer of the Year by the Arizona School Resource Officer Association Conference.

KVOA: Unclaimed remains of veterans laid to rest in Marana

KVOA provided a story on a special ceremony at Marana's Veteran's Cemetery. 

The unclaimed remains of 29 U.S. Veterans were laid to rest on Saturday during a special ceremony in Marana. The ceremony is part of an annual effort led by the Veterans Recovery Program that works to make sure unclaimed remains are identified and properly interred.

"We have veterans that have cremated remains that have been sitting on shelves for years," said Veteran Paul Marsh.

Marsh has been part of the effort to get the Veteran Cemetery in Marana. 

The 29 veterans that were honored on Saturday may have never been identified had it not been for the Veterans Recovery Program.

"They deserve as good of treatment as we can give them as veterans. We do this type of thing twice a year to take good care of our veterans who don't have anybody to take care of them," said Marsh.

Read the rest of the story on KVOA's website. 

12 News in Phoenix also ran a story on the ceremony. 

Mayor's Message: Saying ‘goodbye’ to one of Marana’s dearest friends

Marana Mayor Ed Honea provided a Mayor's Message for the latest issue of the Marana News/Explorer News

Last week, we said goodbye to Councilmember Carol McGorray. Marana said goodbye to a great champion who loved this community. Many of us said goodbye to a dear friend. 

While it is easy to be sad at her passing, it is also easy to smile and remember all of the great things she did. I was friends with Carol long before we began working on the Marana Town Council, and through our civic duties we accomplished great things together. 

First and foremost, Carol loved her family. She was a mother of seven children, 13 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren with two more on the way. In her various roles in the community, she often looked at issues from the perspective of how they would impact families. 

She had a tremendous impact on the community through her various boards and positions, and was a kind, hard-working person who put the community first. She served on the board of the Marana Health Center, and was a member of the Marana Food Bank’s Advisory Board since its inception. For her work with the food bank, she was recently awarded emeritus status. In addition, she was very involved with the Dove Mountain Civic Group, the Marana School District and the Dove Mountain Rotary Club. 

One constant theme in her work was her desire to protect those who needed it most and try to be an advocate for those who were struggling. She was compassionate. She cared.

I have been asked a number of times recently about who Carol McGorray was, and I usually say she was a “great lady.” But that does not cover it. She believed in rolling up her sleeves and working to help her neighbors, and she saw everybody in Marana as her neighbor. She believed in treating everyone with respect.

She served on the Council for 17 years and was proud of what we accomplished, but at the end she felt there were still things to get done to make the community stronger. She was preparing to run for re-election. 

We may have said goodbye to Carol McGoray last week, but her impact will not soon be forgotten. She wore many hats, served many causes and worked hard to have them all mean something important. We need more spirited individuals like Carol McGorray on the Town Council and our boards and commissions, so that Marana will continue to be the most favored place.

April 7 service will honor victims of Nighthawk crash

On Saturday, April 7 at 10:00am at the Marana Regional Airport, the Marine Corps League Nighthawk 72 will host the 18th Anniversary Memorial Service to honor the 19 Marines who lost their lives in an training accident. 

A devastating tragedy occurred on the night of April 8, 2000, when an Air Force training mission went awry and an Osprey aircraft crashed at the Marana Regional Airport killing all 19 Marines on board. The investigation into the accident took over a year, but finally the survivors were able to have some closure during a memorial service near the site of the crash.

The Marana Town Council and Staff came together to erect a flagpole flying the U.S. flag, the Arizona State Flag, and the Marine Corps flag at the memorial site along with a plaque with the names and ranks of each serviceman. Many federal, state and local officials were on hand to honor these brave men.  A memorial service has been held each year since then, and the local Marine Corps league, named Nighthawk 72 in honor of the fallen aircraft, have added memorial artifacts over the years dedicated to keeping the memory of the event alive, never to be forgotten by the families and friends.

April promises to be a busy month in Marana

April is a very busy month in the Town of Marana. No matter what your interest ,there are plenty of things to do in the Town. 

The Marana Police Department will hold their annual Tip-A-Cop fundraiser for Special Olympics On Wednesday, April 4 from 4:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Texas Roadhouse. MPD Officers will be present working as servers and earning tips which will benefit the Special Olympics.
Tip-A-Cop

On Saturday, May 7 bring your dancing shoes for a night of free music in the park with local talent Sonora Borealis! Sonora Borealis play their own take on classic rock from the 70's and 80's. Enjoy music while lounging in a chair or on a blanket (borrow one from us if you don't have one).  We are always located in the field behind the Wheeler Taft Library.
Sonora Borealis

The Wings of Freedom Tour is coming to the Marana Regional Airport from April 6th to 8th. The tour will bring vintage World War II aircraft to the Town including a  Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a B-24 Liberator, a B-25 Mitchell, and a P-51 Mustang.
Wings of Freedom Tour

The Desert Bluegrass Association and the Town of Marana have joined together to host The 2018 Marana Bluegrass & Acoustic Music Festival  on April 13-15 at the Gladden Farms Community Park (12205 N Tangerine Farms Rd, Marana, AZ 85653). The event features three days of music and other activities.
Marana Bluegrass & Acoustic Music Festival

On April 14, the Marana Police Department, in partnership with the Marana-Foothills Optimist Club; Vistoso Funeral Home, Arizona Youth Partnership and Pima County Wastewater, Marana Police Volunteers encourages Marana citizens, businesses and schools to join us in sharing information about drug awareness and preventive measures.
April 14 - Dispose-A-Med

Also on April 14 will be the Free Vaccination Clinic For Dogs hosted by the Town of Marana Animal Services and the Humane Society of Southern Arizona.
April 14 - Free Canine Rabies Vaccination Clinic

Join us on April 21 for the 11th Annual Camping Under the Stars event!! Experience the great outdoors by camping overnight in our beautiful Ora Mae Harn Park. Registration will include your tent site, movie in the park, camp fire, star gazing, crafts, games, and environmental exhibits.
Camping Under the Stars

Don't want to stay the night, come on out for our Free Movie in the Park "Coco".

• Apr. 19 - State of the Town
• April 21 - Coffee With A Cop
• April 21 - Comcast Fair at Crossroads at Silverbell Park
• May 5 - Free Music In Marana: OnesAll Band
• May 12 - Marana Mother's Day 5K- Family Fun Run
• May 19 - Free Movie In Marana: Wonder

MPD Tip-A-Cop to benefit Special Olympics

The Marana Police Department will hold their annual Tip-A-Cop fundraiser for Special Olympics On Wednesday, April 4 from 4:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Texas Roadhouse. MPD Officers will be present working as servers and earning tips which will benefit the Special Olympics.

Last year volunteers from nearly every portion of the MPD came out to serve the packed house at Texas Roadhouse. They collected over $5,000 in tips and every dime benefitted the Arizona Special Olympics.

The MPD has been involved with Special Olympics for over a decade and has raised over $100,000 for Southern Arizona Special Olympians. 

They had 32 volunteers on hand from the MPD including lieutenants, captains and Chief  Terry Rozema. They had volunteers from the bomb squad, K9 and motor patrol, as well as the youth Explorers program and the volunteer VIP’s.

Come to @texasroadhouse for the @MaranaPD Tip A Cop event benefiting the @SpecialOlympics Wednesday, April 4th at 4:30-9:30pm Marana, Texas Roadhouse
Bobby Francis & @ElisaCotaFranci will be there with @ArcLightPics . We hope to see you there! pic.twitter.com/tAhMBnA9LM

— ArcLight Pictures (@ArcLightPics) April 3, 2018

Marana News: Marana joins PCWIN system

The Marana News wrote an article about the Town replacing the current public safety communications system with the Pima County Wireless Integrated Network radio system, or PCWIN.

Switching to PCWIN will enhance communication between the Marana Police Department and all other law enforcement and fire departments in the county. According to Marana Chief of Police Terry Rozema, who spoke to council at the March 20 meeting, there’s been a push to increase interoperability between public safety organizations ever since the terror attcks on Sept. 11, 2001.

“From a public safety standpoint, this is really kind of a no brainer for us,” he said. 

MPD regularly works with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the Northwest Fire District. The current system doesn’t allow MPD ease of communication with those entities, or other Southern Arizona law enforcement or fire service agencies that use PCWIN. 

When MPD communicates with other jurisdictions, officers call MPD dispatch, who then call the other organizations on the phone—a process that takes time the officers don’t always have.

An example Rozema gave was MPD could be chasing a suspect that crosses into unincorporated Pima County, necessitating collaboration with Pima County Sheriff’s Department. By the time MPD conveys their location to the Sheriff’s Department, MPD officers are already in a different place, due to the time lapse.

Read the full story in the Marana News

Marana In The Media: I-10 Project in Marana Improves Traffic Flow

ConstructionEquipmentGuide.com had a detailed article about the Ina Interchange project. The story gave a through overview of the project.

Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is improving traffic flow on Interstate-10 in Marana, Ariz., by constructing a new interchange bridge over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad Tracks at Ina Road. Besides providing better traffic movement, the $128 million project will improve safety at the location. Ina Road was closed in February 2017 and the project is on track to complete work in early 2019.

Funding for the work is provided by the Federal Highway Administration, Pima Association of Governments and the Regional Transportation Authority. Marana also contributed $7.9 million toward the cost of new bridges being built over the Santa Cruz River.

Ina Road will be widened to Silverbell Road west of I-10. An additional lane will be added, giving the highway four lanes in each direction. The project also will turn an aging intersection into a modern interchange. One of the major changes will be a new bridge to carry Ina Road traffic over I-10 and the railroad tracks.

The original bridge, which has been demolished, carried I-10 motorists over Ina Road. Crews have been working to rebuild a four-lane Ina Road west of the freeway. They dug holes for pillars to support the new bridge. A milestone was met at the end of January 2018 when westbound traffic was moved to the new eastbound pavement. That allowed for three lanes in both directions until the project is complete.

It also meant that the bridge and new westbound pavement could be completed.

“The new Ina Road bridge over I-10 is complete over the eastbound lanes,” said Tom Herrmann, public information officer of ADOT in Phoenix. “And with all traffic now on that pavement, we'll complete the bridge over the westbound lanes and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.”

Once completed, motorists using Ina Road will enjoy smoother traffic flow without regular interruptions for trains passing through. Originally, it was two lanes in each direction on the east side of I-10 and a single lane in each west of I-10. The project will result in two lanes in each direction to Silverbell Road in the west. Ina Road will have two bridges, one eastbound and one westbound, each with two travel lanes.

About a half mile to the west, crews have been working on a two-lane bridge on eastbound Ina Road where it crosses the Santa Cruz River. In an early February update, Herrmann reported that the eastbound Ina Road bridge had been completed. In addition to bridges, the project includes new ramps.

“Because we are replacing the two I-10 bridges with a single Ina Road bridge, we are building an entirely new interchange, including on and offramps,” Herrmann said.

Read the Full Article at ConstructionEquipmentGuide.com

Marana Public Works employees win street repair competition

On March 22, the Public Works Asphalt Crew took first place in the Crack Sealing Competition at the 2018 Annual Tom Sheetz Rodeo at the Town of Gilbert Public Works facility

The rodeo is an annual event held by the Arizona Maintenance Superintendents Association (AMSA) to showcase various skills used in the maintenance and repair of public infrastructure. 

Marana’s winning crack seal team was made up of Adrian Rojel, Tomas Gonzalez, John Kaiama, and Fredy Castellanos. Two other Marana employees had good showings with Rich Jacinto competing in the Traffic Markings Event, while Shari Howard participated in the Wheel Loader Event. Competitors could only participate in a single event.

Other events included Asphalt Patch, Concrete Repair, Backhoe, Forklift, and Sign Placement.

According to their website, “the AZMSA is comprised of a diverse group of professionals from Public Works Directors to Equipment Operators and is supported by a variety of vendors that provide the tools, equipment, materials and knowledge necessary for us to do our jobs with excellence.”

"Rake-O-Vac" improving Marana ball fields

The Rake-O-Vac was utilized to remove burrs from fields, but it is also improving the turf. 

The Marana Parks and Recreation Department has a very interactive Facebook page. Through the page they not only try to publicize their events and programs, but get feedback from those who participate in the program.

A few weeks back several parents of little leaguers who utilized the fields at Ora Mae Harn Park informed the staff that there were a large number of grass burrs in the baseball field grass and that they could not only be uncomfortable for the young athletes playing in them, but they were getting stuck to the uniforms, making it very difficult to get the uniforms clean.

Parks and Rec staff looked into the problem and found seeds down in the turf from kaki weed that have sharp points on them. This is how the plant propagates itself attaching to something walking through the area and being deposited elsewhere.

The Park Maintenance team was quick to respond and looked to figure out a solution to the problem. The maintenance team worked with the Town of Marana Fleet Division to refurbish equipment already in Town's inventory to help resolve the problem. They repaired the Rake-O-Vac and set out to see if it could fix the burr problem.

Not only did they reduce the number of burrs, but they found the machine was also helping to remove dead thatch from the turf. The thatch acts in a way that is similar to evaporative cooler pads and keeps the turf cooler. Once removed the Bermuda grass was able to thrive.  

“The Rake-O-Vac is now onsite and being used to reduce the burrs, improve overall grass conditions, and enhance park user experience,” said Marana Parks and Recreation Maintenance Superintendent David Herman. "We like to think no seed, no weed."

With the success of the Rake-O-Vac, the plan is to now hit all of the other fields in the Town. With Little League season about to begin, those fields will get the first treatments, but soon the rest of the multi-purpose fields will also see the Rake-O-Vac make a visit.

The device uses large “fingers” to both sweep and vacuum, but can also be fitted with other attachments that can handle grass cutting, sweeping, and even leaf removal.

Applicants wanted for open position on Marana Planning Commission

The Town of Marana is seeking qualified citizens for a position on the Planning Commission.  The term expires June 30, 2021.

The Marana Planning Commission is a Council-appointed seven-member advisory body which makes recommendations to the Marana Town Council on matters relating to zoning and land development, including the Marana General Plan (Marana's future vision for development) and applications for approval of rezoning cases, subdivision plats, development plans, and conditional uses.  Applicants must be Marana residents.

The Planning Commission meets at the Marana Municipal Complex at 6:30 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month. Agendas are available at the Marana Development Services office on the Monday before the meeting.

Deadline to submit an application is April 27, 2018. All applications will remain active for one year from the date of receipt. 

Applications are available at http://marana.seamlessdocs.com/f/boards and can be submitted online.  Call 382-1960 or 382-2655  for more information.

Posted:  March 26, 2018

Marana Town Clerk

2018 Council Candidate Orientation and Voter Registration

On Wednesday, April 4, 2018, a candidate orientation will be held in the Council Chambers of the Marana Municipal Complex, 11555 W. Civic Center Drive, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. to assist prospective candidates with the process of running for office in the August 2018 primary election.

Marana holds staggered, non-partisan elections every two years.  This year, four seats are open.  Candidate packets will be available at the orientation and are also available online at http://www.maranaaz.gov/candidate-information in person at the Office of the Town Clerk.

The Town Clerk and the Deputy Town Clerk will give a brief presentation on candidate filing requirements, forms and campaign finance.  The Town Attorney will advise candidates on legal issues and give a short tutorial on the Arizona Open Meeting Law.  Also covered will be current law on posting political signs.

Information on registering to vote will also be part of the orientation. April 30 is the earliest date to turn in candidate filings, and May 30, 2018 is the deadline to file.

As of February 14, 2018, 24,992 Marana residents were registered to vote.

Historically, Marana’s Council Members have been elected at the Primary and then seated after the November general election.

For questions, contact Jocelyn Bronson, Marana Town Clerk, at 520-382-1960, or Hilary Hiser, Deputy Town Clerk, at 520-382-1962.

Marana park, officials voted best by newspaper readers

Playground at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park.

The Best of the Northwest Awards were released by Tucson Local Media on Wednesday, and the Town of Marana fared very well. The awards, which are voted on by readers of the Explorer, Marana News, and Foothills News, look at a wide variety of categories including public and private entities, and individuals.

Crossroads at Silverbell District Park was named the top park.

“Crossroads has more amenities than just about any other in the area,” the publications wrote. “Volleyball courts, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, a dog park and playgrounds lay right to the side of The Loop walking and cycling path.”

Two Town of Marana officials were also voted tops in their categories.

Marana Mayor Ed Honea was named Best Community Leader.

“Marana and the name Honea just go hand-in-hand, and Ed Honea is doing well for the five-generation Marana family,” they wrote. “Sitting his third separate term, Honea graduated from Marana High School, is a Vietnam War veteran and truly a man of his community.”

Marana Town Council Member Dave Bowen was the runner up in the award.

Marana Police Department Chief Terry Rozema was selected the Best Police Officer.

“With decades of experience in his field, Chief Terry Rozema leads his department by example,” said the publication. “Though he spent a great deal of his career with the Tucson Police Department, Chief Rozema has made a positive impression over the years on the residents and officers in Marana.”

MPD Sgt. Jeff Pridgett was third in the voting.

Marana had a place in two of the best biking trails. The Pima County Shared Use path, or the Loop as it is known, has several miles of pathways in the town and was the winner of the category.

The Tortolita Preserve Loop finished second for best biking trail.

Several Marana-based businesses also won their categories.

Best Bookstore: Bookmans Entertainment Exchane
Best Hotel/Resort: Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain
Best Shopping Center: Tucson Premium Outlets
Best Physical Therapy Provider: ProActive Physical Therapy
Best Deli/Sandwich Shop: Baggin’s Gourmet Sandwiches

Full lists

A Look At Pavement Preservation, Pt. 2

Marana’s Pavement Preservation Program was designed to give Marana great roads. There is a lot to the program, from what the program hopes to accomplish, what methods are utilized, and how the roads are selected for repair. In this multi-part series, we will look at all aspects of the program. Part 2 looks at how the Town rates the roads and figures out which projects become a priority.

A Look At Pavement Preservation, Pt. 1

The key to implementing preventive maintenance techniques and maintaining a pavement management program is developing and maintaining an inventory of pavement condition and quantity. In Marana, streets are broken into segments and staff survey the same locations on a biennial basis, counting cracks and deficiencies as identified in the Federal Highway Administration's Pavement Distress Identification Manual. We compare scores of the current assessment to those of prior assessments to determine the rate of deterioration.

Information is also collected from the Pima Association of Governments-sponsored Automated Road Analyzer (ARAN) van to rate the condition of Town arterial and collector streets. Data is combined with the Town’s pavement preservation program findings to determine the condition of the streets, the degree of need for repair, and the type of repair that is most appropriate. The most cost-effective solution is then selected for each street.  

The Pavement Condition Index, developed by the Army Corps of Engineers, is generally accepted as the industry standard for scoring pavement condition. It provides a rational basis, calculating deterioration rate and deterioration modeling. The data can be used in conjunction with a pavement management program to develop a plan for pavement preservation, proactive maintenance, and rehabilitation.

Most of Marana's pavements receive some form of preventive maintenance based upon a general timeframe, but as the ability to rate and analyze pavement gets better, we will prioritize maintenance based more on pavement condition and construction type rather than just the elapsed time between treatments.

Fun, free events in Marana

Town of Marana Special Events Coorinator Monique Hagberg provided a message to the Marana News/Explorer News about all the great free, family friendly events the Town of Marana is hosting.

The Town of Marana has made a commitment to providing free, family-friendly entertainment for our residents. Whether you want a relaxing night under the stars or an activity-filled afternoon at our major festivals, we have something for you.

MOVIES IN MARANA

This past weekend, we had our first free Movie in Marana with a showing of Warner Bros. Picture’s “Wonder Woman” at San Lucas Community Park. Don’t worry if you missed it, because there’s a lot more to come. This movie series changes location throughout the year to showcase Marana parks including Ora Mae Harn District Park, the Splash Pad at Marana Heritage River Park and Dove Mountain Park. 

The diverse locations provide fun programming to go along with the films. Our Saturday, April 21 showing of Pixar’s “Coco” will coincide with Marana Parks and Recreation’s “Camping Under the Stars” event. Whether you want to camp out for the night or just catch the film with the family, it’s guaranteed to be a fun evening.  

In June and July, our swimming pool at Ora Me Harn Park will transform into a movie theater with two movie features. On June Saturday, 16, we will show Universal Picture’s “Despicable Me 3,” the latest installment of Gru and those trouble-making minions. On Saturday, July 21, the Force will be with us when we show Disney’s “The Last Jedi”. 

In August, we move from the pool to our splash pad at Marana Heritage River Park to watch Paramount Animation’s “Sherlock Gnomes.” This event is always fun for the kids because not only can they play in the splash pad, but they can also frolic on the playground while still watching the screen. 

Not only are the movies free, but families are free to bring their own food and beverages. We’ve seen everything from traditional tubs of popcorn and boxes of candy, to stacks of pizza and even some delicious homemade nachos. Fear not, if you don’t bring your own goodies, we usually have a food vendor on hand. 

Bring your blanket and chairs, or you can rent some from us.

MUSIC IN MARANA

Our free Music In Marana concert series feature a variety of musical acts throughout the year at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park. Our first concert is slated for Saturday, April 7, and over the next few months we will bring a number of great local musical acts to the Town. 

The concert series features progressive funk-rock band OnesAll, high energy Little House of Funk, Marana-native country artist Caiden Brewer, and classic rock band The Drift. 

Live music isn’t only offered at these Saturday night concerts. There will be plenty of live music at Marana’s Star Spangled Spectacular on Wednesday, July 4 and the Marana Farm Festival on Saturday, September 29. 

Those two festivals along with December’s Marana Holiday Festival and Christmas Tree Lighting make up our remaining signature events for this calendar year. All events are free. Star Spangled Spectacular is Southern Arizona’s largest Independence Day celebration with over 16,000 people in attendance. Marana Farm Festival features free carnival rides and a rodeo, and Marana Holiday Festival and Christmas Tree Light Show will once again feature a 40-foot tall digital light show set to music. All these events feature plenty of free activities for the kids and make a great family outing. 

This summer will also see Marana ribbon cuttings for new parks projects including the opening of Tangerine Sky Park, the splash pad at Crossroads, and the new pocket park in Honea Heights. 

Whether you like movies, music, big events, or just want to go to the park, Marana is the place for you and your family to have a fun, free time. 

Visit MaranaEvents.com to plan your year with us. 

Monique Hagberg is the Special Events Coordinator for the Town of Marana.

Beam Topping Ceremony celebrates Police Facility milestone

Another milestone was met in the construction of the new Marana Police Facility when the final steel beam was placed by contractors on Tuesday morning. To commemorate the event, Town Staff were given the opportunity to write messages of support on the beam before it was installed.

The beam topping ceremony was seen as a way for employees to be a part of the building’s history and to celebrate this construction milestone.

The new police facility is due to be completed later this year and will provide a state of the art facility for the Marana Police Department. The project is primarily funded through a dedicated half cent sales tax that will expire when all of the funds for the project are complete. By utilizing the dedicated tax, as well as RICO funds, the project will be completed debt free.

Prior to approving the funding for the facility, the Marana Town Council required the MPD to conduct a campaign of public education and outreach. Once approved MPD did their due diligence to research similar facilities to ensure amenities to accommodate the police department’s various services, as well as the capacity to manage Marana’s anticipated population growth, and the commensurate police department growth, over the next twenty years.

Among the features of the new facility will be: expanded training facilities, expanded storage and evidence rooms, new K-9 amenities, holding cells, and a new inclusive community room.

MPD Tri-Star program creating safer apartment communities

The Marana Tri-Star Program is a partnership between MPD, property managers and/or landlords, and residents to work together in a cooperative effort to foster a safer community. The program is designed to help reduce criminal activity and the need for police service calls at multi-housing properties.

By following the steps outlined in the Marana Tri- Star Program, apartments can help promote an atmosphere that is more desirable and safer for their residents.

To be compliant, property and maintenance managers must complete training, sign Crime Free Lease Agreements with all of the residents and show commitment towards the safe property standard of the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) criteria. 

“El Memorial De Don Frew Apartments management has worked diligently to provide that kind of environment for their residents,” said Marana Police Department Volunteer Thomas Cox who leads the Tri-Star program. “It’s a simple case where people care about where they live and want to take care of it.”

Currently there are six apartment complexes in Marana that participate in the Tri-Star program. El Memorial De Don Frew Apartments is the only Level 3 certified place of residence, while the rest hold Level 2 certifications.

The Tri-Star Program is designed to help residents, owners and managers of rental communities keep drugs and other illegal activity away. Participating in the Tri-Star Program does not imply there is no crime in the community; it means communities are taking steps to deter crime and have consequences when tenants are involved in illegal activity in and around the community.

Learn more about the Tri-Star Program at www.maranaAZ.gov/mpd

Lifeguards positions available

Looking for a summer job, or know a teen who is? Like to get outdoors, swim, and enjoy the summer? Then we may have the perfect job.

The Town of Marana Parks and Recreation Department is hiring Lifeguards, including a Head Lifeguard, for an exciting summer working at the pool. These positions are short-term temporary during the pool season (May - October). Applicants must commit to work the entire season and must attend orientation and training provided by the Town.
Head Lifeguard
Lifeguard

Need Lifeguard Certification or just a refresher course? The Town of Marana is offering both. The Lifeguarding program will train lifeguards to act with speed and confidence in emergency situations both in and out of the water. Topics include water rescue skills, surveillance and recognition, first aid, breathing and cardiac emergencies, CPR, AED and more. The new program reflects the latest Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) science.
Lifeguard Training
Lifeguard Refresher