Things to do in Marana for May and Beyond

May 4 - Ina Road Celebration Weekend

Come celebrate the reopening of the Ina Road Interchange and Ina Road Beautification Project with a 9 AM ceremony on Saturday, May 4 and business block party throughout the weekend!

The Ina Road Celebration Weekend kicks off on Saturday, May 4 with a 9 A.M. cake-cutting ceremony featuring Town elected officials and staff, and representatives from Arizona Department of Transportation, Regional Transportation Authority, and Marana Chamber of Commerce.

The ceremony will be followed by the business block party that will last throughout the weekend with celebrations and sales at participating business locations throughout Ina Road.

May 4 - Free Music in Marana: Kate Becker

Bring your dancing shoes for a night of free music in the park! Kate Becker is a vocalist and writer of melodies and lyrics. Becker brings deep and soulful meaning to her original songs with an eclectic mix of funk, latin, rhythm and blues and jazz.  Her all-star band includes some of Arizona’s best musicians.

May 4 - Marana Meltdown

Join us in our first ever Mountain Bike Time Trial on the Tortolita Preserve. The course is  9.9 miles of single track with sand, hard pack, and some nice flowy sections. This is a semi-technical trail that meanders through the beautiful Tortotlita Preserve.

May 11 - Mother's Day 5K

Celebrate Mom the healthy way at the popular Mother's Day 5K in Marana. This event features a family fun walk/run beginning at the beautiful Gladden Farms Park. Every participant will receive a raffle ticket. Mom’s, Grandmothers, & Moms-to-be are the guests of honor and will receive a charm at the finish line.

May 15 - Coffee With A Cop

Come grab a cup of coffee and meet and interact with members of the Marana Police Department from noon to 2 PM on Wednesday, May 15 at the Starbucks located at 3951 W. Ina Road.

This is a great opportunity to meet Ofc. Ashley Espinoza, who is the new Community Resource Officer for the Marana Police Department, or just chat with any of the MPD staff on hand. 

May 18 - Free Movie In Marana: Emoji Movie

The Free Movie in Marana for May is the Emoji Movie, which will be shown at the Splash Pad at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park. Show starts at 7:30pm, once the sun has gone down. Bring something to sit on or borrow a chair or blanket from us. We will have a snack vendor present with movie treats for purchase.

June 1 - Free Music In Marana: The Drift

The Drift has been playing classic rock since before it was classic rock. The band was formed in 1982 playing guitar-based rock with influences like Foreigner, Boston, and Journey. They mix some of their originals, with rock in roll radio standards we all know and love.

July 4 - Star Spangled Spectacular

Come out to Marana's spectacular Independence Day celebration, the Star Spangled Spectacular at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park. Enjoy live music, dozens of food trucks, inflatables for the kids, a beer garden for the adults, and of course, a magnificent fireworks show.

On The Horizon

Jun 1 - Free Music In Marana - The Drift
Jun 15 - Free Dive-In Movie - A Wrinkle In Time
Jun 29 - Splash N Dash Aquathon
July 4 - Star Spangled Spectacular

Manager's Message: Ina Road corridor celebrates re-opening

Most of the work on the Ina Road Interchange Project has been completed.

Every month Marana Town Manager Jamsheed Mehta provides a Manager’s Message to the Marana News. This month the topic is the Ina Road corridor.

This weekend, the Town of Marana will welcome the community to the improved Ina Road corridor at the “Ina Road Celebration Weekend” on May 4 and 5. The public will be treated to a kick-off ceremony May 4 at 9 a.m. with Town council and guests from Arizona Department of Transportation, Regional Transportation Authority and Marana Chamber of Commerce, and will be held at the Lowe’s Home Improvement parking lot near the Ina and Thornydale intersection. 

Ina Road Celebration Weekend begins Saturday, May 4.

Businesses will then celebrate with a weekend-long block party, where everyone is encouraged to shop local and support their neighborhood businesses along the Ina Road corridor. I greatly encourage members of the public to join in the celebration as we look on with pride at what this region has accomplished together. 

ADOT’s Ina Road Interchange project involved rerouting local street access away from the interstate in order to reconstruct an entirely new interchange that stretches over both the interstate and the Union Pacific railroad tracks. This eliminated at-grade crossings and widened both Interstate-10 and Ina Road, effectively making the area safer and more accommodating for continued growth. 

The Town’s Ina Road Beautification project was done in conjunction with the Ina Road Interchange project in an effort to improve portions of Ina Road. The repaving project includes landscaping along both sides of the road and in the center median, and adding street lights and traffic signal improvements. Now, when people drive down this corridor, their first impression of our community and businesses will be a positive one. 

Projects such as these are tedious for everyone during times of construction, but the payoff is clear once the dust has settled. Improved infrastructure serves as the literal foundation for a healthy community.  

Marana has experienced a surge in growth in recent years, projecting consistently as one of the fastest growing communities in southern Arizona. In 2018, over 800 new single-family resident homes were built in our community. By our calculations, this means approximately 2,300 new people moved to Marana, bringing our overall population to exceed 47,000 people. 

Marana is a much larger town than it was a decade ago, and large projects like the Ina Road Interchange and Ina Road Beautification Project serve to help support the community we will become in the future. Now, as we end this 2-year construction period, our focus is on revitalizing our affected business community. 

The “Ina Road Celebration Weekend” kicks this effort off with a bang, and I look forward to joining the businesses as they welcome the community back to the corridor. 

Jamsheed Mehta is the Marana Town Manager.

National Building Safety Month: Week 1 Preparing for disasters: Build strong, build smart

May is National Building Safety Month and all this month the Town of Marana will be focusing on the importance of building safety to the community. The first week’s theme is “Preparing for disasters: Build strong, build smart” and we delve into how being properly prepared for disasters can keep your family and business safe.

Week 1: Preparing for disasters: Build strong, build smart

Natural disasters are increasing in severity and frequency. Even though Marana does not get things like hurricanes and earthquakes, it is still important to plan in advance for devastating events like floods, microbursts, and even wildfires. Planning ahead helps individuals and communities increase the health and safety of their population during a disaster, protects the local tax base, ensures continuity of essential services, and supports a faster recovery in the aftermath of a disaster. Here’s how you can help your family and community:

• Build to the latest codes

• Prepare your family

• Protect your home

• Benchmark your community’s resilience

The Town of Marana does many things to help protect homes and businesses, as well as Town infrastructure, from natural disasters. The Town has formally adopted the latest (2018) code editions to make sure everything is built to the latest standards and most of our projects take potential natural disasters into account. Our Public Works team hands out sandbags during Monsoon Season and are on call for storm clean-up during the wet months. We also have great community partners like the Northwest Fire District who are at the top of their game during these difficult times.

Learn More about Preparing for Disasters at the International Code Council’s website

Below are some resources the Code Council has to help you prepare your family and protect your home from natural disasters.

May is Building Safety Month in Marana

On Tuesday , April 16 the Marana Town Council officially recognized May as Building Safety Month with a formal proclamation.

The Town of Marana’s recognizes that the Town’s growth depends on the safety and economic value of the homes, buildings, and infrastructure, both in everyday life and in times of natural disaster. Building safety ensures that the structures are safe and retain their value.

Building Safety Month is a public awareness campaign celebrated by jurisdictions during the month of May. The campaign is presented by the International Code Council and its 64,000 members worldwide as well as a diverse partnership of professionals from building, construction, design and the safety community that all work together on promoting these concepts.  

This year’s Building Safety Month theme is “No Code, No Confidence.” The goal of Building Safety Month  is to raise awareness of the importance of safe and resilient construction, fire prevention, disaster mitigation, and new technologies in the construction industry.

Building Safety Month 2019 hopes to encourage everyone to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of our built environment. The goal is also to shine a light on the importance of safety codes implemented by local and state agencies in keeping homes, businesses, and individuals safe.

The Town of Marana will be highlighting Building Safety Month  with a public information and outreach campaign. They will be putting up educational materials and on their website and social media accounts all throughout the month. They will host educational events Marana Lowe’s and Home Depot locations as well as making presentations in area schools about careers in building safety.

The ICC campaign consist of individual themes for each of the five weeks within the month of May.

Week 1: (April 29-May 5): Preparing for disasters: Build strong, build smart
Week 2 (May 6-12): Ensuring a safer future through training and education
Week 3 (May 13-19): Securing clean, abundant water for all communities
Week 4 (May 20-26): Construction professionals and homeowners: Partners in safety
Week 5 (May 27-30): Innovations in public safety.

Marana named Tree City USA for the fourth time

Marana planted Saguaros and other cactuses as part of their Arbor Day Celebration.

For the fourth straight year the Town of Marana has been named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation.

Jim Conroy and Dave Herman re-plant a Saguaro on Arbor Day.

Tree City USA is a national recognition program that began in 1976, and is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and National Association of State Foresters. Marana joins over 3,400 other cities and towns across America, and 29 cities and towns in Arizona as Tree Cities.  Towns and cities that have received their Tree City USA recognition take pride in this distinction, and the people who live there enjoy the valuable benefits of having a greener, healthier community.

One of the requirements of being a Tree City USA is celebrating Arbor Day and the Town of Marana did that in several ways, including an official proclamation by the Marna Town Council at their April 16 meeting.  

“Arbor Day is so important for the community, for the Town, and for the country. Trees bring so much to everybody, it is a beautiful thing to be under a nice shade tree,” said Marana Parks Superintendent Dave Herman.

Herman is the Chairman of the local Tree City Board, who is behind the Tree City Designation, and also a member of the Southern Arizona Arborist Group (SAAG).

Hedgehog Cactus in Bloom

On Wednesday Herman attended the State of Arizona Arbor Day Celebration. In addition to accepting this year’s award he and other representatives planted a Pistachio tree on the back lawn of the state capital museum.   

The Town of Marana put its own Southern Arizona spin on this year’s Arbor Day celebration. Recently, Herman was able to relocate 20 saguaros from the construction site of the Dove Mountain Senior Living facility. While the building project is keeping many of the Saguaros, some had to be relocated and Herman and his crew took up the task.

This is the best time to harvest Saguaros because they are full of water after winter rains. It also makes it tricky to actually move them because the water makes them quite heavy. However, with all of this stored water they won’t be drought stricken before the summer monsoon hits.   

In addition to the Saguaros, Herman also rescued five Fishhook barrel cactus, 50 Pincushion cactus and 30 Hedgehog cactus which will be in full bloom this month along the Town's new 2.5 miles of the Shared Use Path on the Santa Cruz between Gladden Farms to CalPortland. The new cacti were planted at the five rest stops along the path where they’ll get moisture from the tree irrigation.
 
The Town of Marana will be using these Saguaro plantings as part of their annual Tree City USA Arbor Day” celebration.

“We felt that this was unique to Southern Arizona as not too many Tree City USA member cities could do this kind of planting anywhere else in the United States,” said Marana Parks and Recreation Director Jim Conroy. 

The Town of Marana has officially celebrated Arbor Day annually since 2006 with tree plantings involving volunteers, scouts, school groups, or special event attendees.  Most of those years have included an Arbor Day Proclamation signed by the Mayor.

Marana one of the most popular mid-size Arizona cities to relocate to

The Town of Marana has been named as one of the top-10 most popular mid-size Arizona cities to relocate to in 2019 by MoveBuddha.com. Marana comes in fourth on the list, tops among cities in Southern Arizona.

MoveBuddha.com is a moving information website and analyzed their Arizona move data from the past year to determine the 10 most popular mid-size cities with populations between 10,000 to 50,000.

“If more people want to move to a certain city, you have to assume something special is happening there,” said MoveBuddha.com’s Tyler Wood in a release.

Show Low was the top mid-sized city to relocate to according to the website’s data.

Full List

Paving complete on Ina Road

Paving is complete on Ina Road.

The paving portion of the Ina Beautification Project has been completed. The final mainline pave was the final step of the project that included a complete milling and repaving of the Ina Road and several side streets in the area.

Traffic control markers will remain in place through next week, though all lane restrictions and road closures have ceased.

Town of Marana crews will stripe and paint the roadways next week, but there will be no road closures or expected delays. Next month new light poles will be installed, but traffic restrictions are expected to be minimal. 

The Ina Beautification Project was a comprehensive beautification/improvement project is designed to make the area even more appealing for customers now that the Ina Interchange is accessible again.

Town of Marana did a complete mill and fill of the asphalt on both Ina Road and Aerie Road. All Town streets north of Ina Road, except Camino de Oeste, will have a surface treatment added.

Landscaping was added to bring additional color and plant life along the corridor. New street lights, sidewalks, and accessibility ramps will improve safety and visibility.

Marana rejoins Sun Corridor

The Town of Marana has rejoined Sun Corridor after a seven-year absence from membership to the program. The Marana Town Council unanimously approved the move at their April 16 meeting.

“As a partner with Sun Corridor, the Town will receive access to top elected and business officials through exclusive meetings and updates; be presented with opportunities to weigh-in on development issues and attraction strategies; receive invitations to site selector road shows, media tours and business leadership trips; receive recognition at sponsored events; marketing services and inclusion in ‘confidential attraction projects,’” said Marana Director of Economic Development Curt Woody. “This will give us the opportunity to participate as a regional partner. It would give us the opportunity to help drive the discussions and strategies to help shape the economic development for not just the town of Marana, but for the region as well.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome the Town of Marana as a member of the board of directors,” said Sun Corridor Senior Vice President Laura Shaw in a release. “The Town of Marana will add its voice and expertise along with 71 other Board members (including the Towns of Oro Valley and Sahuarita, as well as the cities of Tucson and Sierra Vista) to aggressively  attract and expand  primary companies in Southern Arizona.”

Sun Corridor is a nonprofit organization focused on coordinating economic development within the Southern Arizona region. Covering Pima, Pinal, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties, the organization specializes in promoting STEM industries: aerospace and defense, automotive, bioscience, healthcare, renewable and mining technology and transportation and logistics. 

“Sun Corridor’s focus is on the business client and placing them in the best possible location in the region,” Woody explained. “This new model is good for the entire region. Regional momentum builds local momentum and Sun Corridor has put Southern Arizona on the national radar.”

Although Marana was not a formal member of Sun Corridor, the Town’s economic development team had a good working relationship with the organization. Joining Sun Corridor strengthens the Town’s relationship with the group, and gives the Town a formal voice on the board of directors and a larger presence in the business recruitment process.

Ed Stolmaker and Marana Auto Body receive the 2019 Branding Iron Awards

As part of the 2019 Marana State of the Town Luncheon, the Town handed out their Branding Iron Awards. The Marana Branding Irons are awarded to on individual and one organization who have made a "mark" on the community.

Some of the past recipients of the awards  include former U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, former Mayor Ora Mae Harn, Wheeler & Charlene Abbett, and Sargent Aerospace & Defense. 

This year the nominees were evaluated by a panel made up of Town staff and members of the Marana Citizens Forum.

INDIVIDUAL: Ed Stolmaker

Ed Stolmaker receives the Branding Iron Award from Mayor Honea on the 2019 State of the Town stage.

Previously having served as President/CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for 15 years, Ed Stolmaker has left a mark on the Marana Community. His partnerships with the town, businesses, and Marana Unified School District have played a major role in making it the fastest growing community in Southern Arizona.

Ed led the effort to align the Chamber to address six key efforts: business development, economic development, public policy, workforce development, improving quality of life, and regional growth; all in an effort of building business and community relationships.

During his tenure, the Marana Chamber of Commerce was named Tucson’s best chamber for three years in a row.

He gave Marana a greater platform and stronger voice through his service on the board of Arizona Chamber Executives from 2005-2009 and again beginning in 2017. He also spent 10 years on the Marana Health Center Board of Directors and served as President of Sanctuary Cove's Board of Directors.

Ed recently retired from his position as President/CEO of the Marana Chamber of Commerce, but he is still an active member of this community. Please join me in congratulating Ed Stolmaker for his impacts on the community.

GROUP: Norma and Victor Castaneda of Marana Auto Body

Norma and Victor Castaneda accept the Branding Iron Award from Mayor Honea on behalf of Marana Auto Body on the 2019 State of the Town stage.

For the organization award, we would like to recognize Norma and Victor Castaneda of Marana Auto Body. They have brought many smiles to many faces, and they always work hard to make sure anyone and everyone in Marana is taken care of.  They have been seen on multiple occasions at Circle K, McDonalds, on frontage roads and even in the desert helping others on their own time, free of charge. From helping with tows, jumping a car that is dead and even giving people on the streets food, these people are extraordinary with the largest of hearts.

It's not all business for this small-town body shop. It's about helping the community and the people that live here. They truly make a difference.  

Tangerine Corridor Project wins multiple awards

The Tangerine Road Corridor Project has been selected one of Public Works Projects of the Year  by the American Public Works Association’s for 2019 in the category of Transportation - $25 million to $75 million. 

Tangerine Corridor Project won several awards.

The APWA Public Works Project of the Year Award was established to promote excellence in the management, administration and implementation of public works projects by recognizing the alliance between the managing agency, the consultant/architect/engineer, and the contractor who working together to complete public works projects.

Projects eligible in the Transportation category include roads, bridges, mass transit that serve any or all modes of travel, including bicycles and foot traffic.

The Town of Marana partnered with the Town of Oro Valley, Pima County, the Psomas Design Team and contractor Tangerine Corridor Constructors (TCC) - a Granite Construction/Borderland Construction on the project, to improve a  five-mile segment of Tangerine Road from Dove Mountain Boulevard/Twin Peaks Road to La Cañada Drive.

The newly constructed roadway delivered to the public:

• A four-lane roadway with landscaped medians 

• The elimination of dip crossings and upgraded culverts to provide 100-year flood access

• Pedestrian and bicycle facilities

• The installation of additional turn lanes and signalization at key intersections

• Wildlife linkages for wildlife corridors along this stretch of roadway

Tom Houle served as the Project Manager for the Town of Marana.

To be eligible for the national award, the project first had to be honored at the state level. The Southern Arizona Branch of the American Public Works Association also named it Project of the Year, Transportation, $25M-$75M category.

The Deer Sculptures on Tangerine Road.

Those were not the only awards for the project. The project also won a 2019 IPI Partnered Project of the Year Award from the International Partnering Institute. The Partnered Project of the Year Award recognizes teams who distinguish themselves by implementing IPI’s best practices and by fostering high-trust and collaborative relationships on their projects. Those involved in the project “demonstrated a commitment to the partnering process, achieved excellent results and delivered an outstanding project.”

The award level for the Tangerine Road, Dove Mountain Blvd./Twin Peaks Road to La Canada Drive Project will be revealed at the IPI Awards Ceremony luncheon on Friday, May 17.

“All of these awards are true honors,” said Houle. “This one means a lot because we were judged by international competition.”

The project also received the 2018 Arizona Transportation Partnering Excellence Award.

The award, established in 2005, recognizes partnership teams who “demonstrate a high degree of achievement through the practice of partnering principles” as well as “display the application of the partnering processes related to the transportation industry.”

According to Perry Powell, the Chair of the AZ Transportation Partnering Excellence Award Committee, the project impressed the judges because the “partnering approach gave great evidence for how important it was to the success of your project.”

Jacob Cox receives 2019 Youth Legacy Award

Jacob Cox accepts the Youth Legacy Award from Mayor Honea on the 2019 State of the Town stage.

As part of the 2019 Marana State of the Town Luncheon last week, the Town handed out their third annual Youth Legacy Award.

AWARD HISTORY

The Marana Town Council created the Youth Legacy Award in order to acknowledge youth in the community who make Marana a better place for everyone. Recipients of this award benefit others in the community through acts supporting:

Heart: promoting a healthy and supportive environment for youth;

Body: Fulfilling essential needs such as food, shelter, and safety; or

Mind: Creating educational opportunities enriching young minds. 

This year the nominees were evaluated by a panel made up of Town staff and members of the Marana Citizens Forum.

Jacob Cox

 For the last three years, Jacob Cox has run the school supplies drive at Rattlesnake Ridge Elementary. He began in 2015 as a third grader, and the intent was to take school supplies with him on his summer trip to Peru and deliver to a small school in the mountains where many students didn't even have shoes to wear, much less have supplies to use for learning.

Jacob expected to have a few handfuls of crayons, pencils and some notebooks to take with him, but when he went to pick up the supplies from the drive, the boxes were overflowing. The response from the students, teachers and parents were overwhelming.  

When he went back to school after his summer break in Peru, he made another presentation to his school with photos of some of the students who received the supplies. The joy on the faces of the students who were getting their very first backpack, or their own box of crayons for the first time, is indescribable.

Jacob was limited on what he could take with him to Peru, so to ensure all supplies went to a new home, he worked with another school in the district to get the supplies to the teachers and students who needed a little help. Jacob went on to run the supply drive for the next 3 years, up until his last summer in elementary school in 2018.

Interstate 10/Ina Road ramps open to traffic

Lane restrictions set to continue for several weeks

Ina Road exits are now open.

The Arizona Department of Transportation has opened all four ramps between Interstate 10 and Ina Road in Marana. The opening marks a significant milestone for the interchange reconstruction project that began in 2017.

Although the ramps are open, crews must complete final elements of the project. Lane restrictions are scheduled to continue for the next several weeks.

Ina Road is open with a single lane in each direction between Silverbell Road and Camino de las Capas.

The westbound frontage road between Orange Grove and Cortaro roads will remain closed for the time being.

Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Bilingual Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or go to azdot.gov/contact and select Projects from the drop-down menu. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT's Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving.

Town of Marana receives the GFOA's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

The Government Finance Officers Association is pleased to announce that the Town of Marana, Arizona, has received GFOA's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its 2018-2019 budget.

“Receiving this award demonstrates the Town of Marana’s dedication to financial transparency,” said Starla Anderson, the Town’s Interim Finance Director during the award submission process. “We are committed to providing the public with detailed information on how their resources are allocated to vital Town services and infrastructure investments.”

The award represents a significant achievement by the Town. It reflects the commitment of the Marana Town Council and Town Staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity's budget serves as:

• A policy document

• A financial plan

• An operations  guide

• A communications  device

Budget documents must be rated "proficient" in all four categories, and in the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.

When a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is granted to an entity, a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation is also presented to the individual(s) or department designated as being primarily responsible for having achieved the award. This has been presented to Starla Anderson, Interim Finance Director.

There are over 1,600 participants in the Budget Awards Program. The most recent Budget Award recipients, along with their corresponding budget documents, are posted quarterly on GFOA's website. Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.

Government Finance Officers Association is a major professional association servicing the needs of more than 19,000 appointed and elected local, state, and provincial-level government officials and other finance practitioners. It provides top quality publications, training programs, services, and products designed to enhance the skills and performance of those responsible for government finance policy and management. The association is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with offices in Washington D.C.

Second Marana Macro Machines a hit + photo gallery

On Friday, April 12, the Town of Marana held their second Marana Macro Machines event. The event allowed people to get up close and personal with the machines that help Marana Town Staff and their community partners do their jobs to make Marana a great.

This event featured departments and divisions from the Town including Streets, Traffic, Facilities, Fleet, Pavement Preservation, Engineering, Police, Water, Animal Services, and Parks and Recreation. Additionally Northwest Fire, the National Weather Service, the Air National Guard, and several contractors were also on hand.

“This is a great way for our employees to interact with the public and show them what they do,” said Marana Public Works Deputy Director Fausto Burrell.

“The kids really love seeing all of the equipment we use to keep the parks looking great, and their parents love seeing all of the tools we use every day,” said Marana Parks Superintendent David Herman. “I’ve had a lot of questions from some dads about the battery powered chainsaw that we use.”

Marana Macro Machines was held at Marana Heritage River Park and was attended by students from area schools as part of a field trip opportunity, as well as a number of residents.

The firetrucks of Northwest Fire were among the most popular for the students to explore.

A drum roller is one tool used to keep Marana’s streets so smooth.

Kids of all ages were able to check out the vehicles.

One of the many tractors used by the Town of Marana Public Works Department.

There are different tools for different jobs.

The proverbial Mack Truck.

The scoop on this vehicle can move a lot of dirt and materials.

Marana Water employees educate students on the importance of water conservation.

Marana Water were giving away free snow cones that attracted a long line.

A Public Works employee explains how a crack sealer repairs roads.

Looking into the jaws of one of Marana Parks and Recreations’ vehicles.

The Pima County Bomb Squad had a few of their robots on display.

A dump truck.

Marana Water was able to show off a lot of the tools they use every day to service Marana Water customers.

Manager's Message: Summer Parks and Recreation Programs

Marana Parks and Recreation invites you to Soak In Summer.

Although we have a few months left until the summer heat hits us, registration for our summer programs has already begun. This summer many of your favorite programs return, while we debut some exciting new ones as well

Fun at the splash pad.

There will be plenty to do this summer for the kids. We have a few new camps, including the Full Day Summer Sports Camps and Summer Cheer Camp that will last all summer long, plus Teen Extreme Day Camps and Challenger International Soccer Camps.  Several old favorites also return, including our Create with a Beat/Art Day Camps, basketball, flag football, volleyball, and Speed & Agility clinics, summer horse camps, and both tennis and golf lessons.

There are a number of exciting programs for adults as well including pickleball, open gyms, a men’s basketball league, the “Dance Fit Fun” Fitness Class, Teen Paint Night in the Park, and we close out the summer with the 80’s Doggy Paddle Pool Party at the Marana Pool.

Our goal is to have programs for everyone in Marana. We have programs for our youngest residents with Tots & Me Story art, Pee Wee Sports Camp, and swim lessons. For active adults adult sports leagues, a variety of races on both land and water, fitness classes, walking clubs, and open gym. For the more creative we offer the Marana Community Music Theater, Paint Nights in the Park, and make and take garden classes. Our senior center offers a variety of great programs for only the cost of a Senior membership. These programs include fitness classes, dance classes, table games, and crafting.

Paint Night at the Park.

This past year have expanded our programming to include children with special needs, which is why our Sensory Splash programs return to the Marana Pool and Gladden Farms Splash Pad.

If events are your thing, I invite you to come out to one of the free concerts or movies we offer, enjoy the fireworks at the Star Spangled Spectacular, or just indulge in the benefits of being outdoors in one of Marana’s parks, splash pads, or trails.

Marana Water represented at "Water Week" in D.C.

Pictured from left to right: Jeane Jensen (Town of Gilbert), Asia Philbin (Marana Water), Senator McSally, and Brad Hill (City of Flagstaff).

Asia Philbin of Marana Water was in Washington DC last week representing the state of Arizona and the Town of Marana at “Water Week.” Every year, water professionals representing community water systems and water-related organizations converge on DC to discuss current water-related issues with the EPA, Bureau of Reclamation, congressional delegations, and others.

Philbin is the Arizona delegate for the American Water Works Association. She and others were able to discuss items with Senator Martha McSally and Senator Kyrsten Sinema, as well as many other representatives. They specifically explained the need for continued funding for water-related infrastructure and the importance of addressing emerging compounds like PFAs.

Water Week is the only national policy event of the year that draws together water professionals from across the country to advocate for the unique needs of drinking water and clean water utilities. It is not only an opportunity to advance policy priorities for the water utilities, including greater federal investment in water infrastructure, but also to celebrate the role these utilities play in communities nationwide.

The anchor event of Water Week is the National Water Policy Fly-In.

“As a new Congress takes control and infrastructure issues take center stage, your attendance and engagement are more critical than ever,” said the Water Week website.

Although the National Water Policy Fly-In serves as the anchor event of Water Week, there are other events in Washington and around the country that celebrate the importance of water and water utilities. In DC, water advocates participate in Congressional Briefings on water and celebrate with Members of Congress at a congressional reception. Outside of DC, utilities in communities from coast to coast celebrate Water Week by hosting facility open houses or other events that highlight the important contributions and benefits that drinking water and clean water utilities provide to support their communities.

Marana Regional Airport To Host U.S. Marine Memorial Service

Marine Memorial at Marana Regional Airport/Photo courtesy Tucson Local Media

Tom Wilson, Sr., Commandant of the Nighthawk 72 Marana Detachment #1344 Marine Corps League, announced today that there will be a Memorial Service at the Marana Regional Airport on Saturday, April 6, 2018 at 10:00AM to honor the 19 U.S. Marines that were tragically killed in an MV-22 Osprey Tilt rotor aircraft accident at the Airport on April 8, 2000. 

The ceremony will include posting of colors by the Marine Corps; wreath laying by various organizations; guest speakers Honorable Mayor Honea, Department of Arizona Marine Corps League Commandant John Rodriguez, and Cpl Joshua Hanson, 3rd Battalion 5th Marines 0331 Machine Gunner; rifle salute, taps, bagpiper and vocalist Amanda Sinner. 

A special missing man formation flyover provided by the Scorpion Squadron of the West Coast Ravens Formation Team. 

The event is free and open to the public. 

March 16, 2019 the roadside memorial was moved slightly northeast and a parking area was created. The new area is more suitable for the ceremony. 

 Additional Background Information The MV-22 Osprey Tilt rotor aircraft was conducting a training mission in support of Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL) when it went down at the Marana Regional Airport in Marana, Arizona on April 8, 2000. During the mission, the crew and Marines conducted Non-combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) exercises as part of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, with Marines embarking and disembarking the aircraft. The mission was conducted at night utilizing night vision goggles and forward looking infrared radar to enhance night operational capability. This mishap aircraft was part of the Multiservice Operational Test Team, based at Patuxent River, Maryland, but was temporarily attached to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. 

The 19 Marines Lost were as follows: 

3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division 
Sgt. Jose Alvarez, 28
Pfc. Gabriel C. Clevenger, 21 Pfc. Alfred Corona, 23 
Lance Cpl. Jason T. Duke, 28
Lance Cpl. Jesus Gonzalez Sanchez, 27
Lance Cpl. Seth G. Jones, 18
2nd Lt. Clayton J. Kennedy, 24
Lance Cpl. Jorge A. Morin, 21
Cpl. Adam C. Neely, 22
Pfc. Kenneth O. Paddio, 23
Pfc. George P. Santos, 24
Lance Cpl. Keoki P. Santos, 24
Cpl. Can Soler, 21
Pvt. Adam L. Tatro, 19 

 Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, Marine Air Control Group 38 
Cpl. Eric J. Martinez, 21

Marine Helicopter Squadron 1
Maj. John A. Brow, 39
Maj. Brooks S. Gruber, 34
Cpl. Kelly S. Keith, 22

Marine Tilt-Rotor Training Squadron 204
Staff Sgt. William B. Nelson, 30 

Busy weekend in Marana

Saturday, April 6 is a very busy day in the Town of Marana. There are two fun events in our parks, a Memorial at the airport, and a Shred-It event for those needing the safe disposal of documents.

8:00 a.m. - Kids at the Park Day + Fitness Fun 5K

Kids at the Park Day on April 6.

Join Marana Parks and Recreation for a FREE day of fitness and fun in Gladden Farms Community Park. This event is robust with activities that encourage families to get outdoors and explore their local parks and paths! The best part… it’s all FREE! Don’t miss out.

Not only is it the start of Splash Pad Season, but we will have a face painter, balloon twister, inflatables and more.

Come early and celebrate the new 2.5 mile extension of the shared use path in north Marana! Enjoy on-course entertainment provided by Salpointe High School Drum-line.

Kids at the Park Day

7:00 p.m. - Free Music In Marana: Caiden Brewer

Caiden Brewer

Bring your dancing shoes for a night of free music in the park! Enjoy music while lounging in a chair or on a blanket (borrow one from us if you don't have one). ​The first free concert of the year is Marana's own Caiden Brewer. Brewer plays country music and has become a real fan favorite at Marana events. The show starts at 7:00 p.m. at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park.

Grab a bit from our great food vendors Carole’s Homemade Salsa & Up In Smoke BBQ and Sweet Sensations.

Free Music In Marana

9:00 a.m. - Paper Shred-It

Town of Marana and Shred-It partner for a paper shred event.

Free paper Shred-It Event for Marana Residents with non-commercial documents that need shredding. The shredding will occur on-site at Twin Peaks Elementary from 9:00 a.m. until noon, unless the truck fills up. Donations to the Marana Community Food Bank are encouraged and greatly appreciated.

Paper Shred

DOWNLOAD FLYER

10:00 a.m. - U.S. Marine Memorial Service

Nighthawk 72 Marina Memorial at the Marana Regional Airport/photo courtesy Tucson Local Media

The Marana Regional Airport will host a U.S. Marine Memorial Service on April 6, 2019 at 10 a.m. The Memorial Service at the Marana Regional Airport is to honor the 19 U.S. Marines that were tragically killed in an MV-22 Osprey Tilt rotor aircraft accident at the Airport on April 8, 2000.

The ceremony will include posting of colors by the Marine Corps, wreath laying by various organizations, guest speakers Honorable Mayor Honea, Department of Arizona Marine Corps League Commandant John Rodriguez, and Cpl Joshua Hanson, 3rd Battalion 5th Marines 0331 Machine Gunner, rifle salute, taps, bagpiper, and vocalist Amanda Sinner.

A special missing man formation flyover provided by the Scorpion Squadron of the West Coast Ravens Formation Team.

The event is free and open to the public.

Other events

There are some other great events in Marana later in April.

April 12 - Marana Macro Machines

Marana Macro Machines, Friday April 12 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Splash Pad at Heritage River Park.

On Friday, April 12 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Splash Pad at Heritage River Park, get up close with the people and machines that work to make our community great! Free ice cream vouchers for the first 200 kids. Visit a wide variety of vehicles, including a sweeper, loader, blade, striping truck, landscape truck and trailer, fire truck, police squad cars, and morel Observe police squad car demonstrations and more.

Marana Macro Machines

April 27 - Camping Under the Stars

Camping Under the Stars

Join us 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, campfire, star gazing, crafts, games, and environmental exhibits

Camping Under The Stars

We are showing Peter Rabbit as part of our Marana Camping Under the Stars event. Join in on the fun and spend the night camping or just come for the free movie. Whether you come for just the movie or the movie and the camping event, it is sure to be a great time for all.

Peter Rabbit and his three sisters -- Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-Tail -- enjoy spending their days in Mr. McGregor's vegetable garden. When one of McGregor's relatives suddenly moves in, he's less than thrilled to discover a family of rabbits in his new home. A battle of wills soon breaks out as the new owner hatches scheme after scheme to get rid of Peter -- a resourceful rabbit who proves to be a worthy and wily opponent.

Peter Rabbit

Founders' Day Photos and Parade Video

This weekend’s Marana Founders’ Day was a huge success. Great crowds turned out for the parade and all the festivities at the Marana Municipal Complex. Relive the event with full video coverage of the parade and a great photo gallery.

Photos by JD Fitzgerald

MPD and NW Fire Honor Guards

Mayor and Council ride on a vintage firetruck.

Sports Park BMX with their giant bicycle.

A young parade watcher is all smiles.

Sabbar Shriners Mini Car.

MUSD had a colorful float.

Jumping Castles were free for the kids.

All smiles for his parade participant.

Horses in the Founders’ Day Parade honor Marana’s ranching tradition.

The Marana High School marching band.

Marana High School mascots.

Folklorico dancers brought plenty of color.

There was plenty to see and learn during Founders’ Day.

Sonora Borealis rocked the house.

More fun on the inflatables

This classic Corvette won Best of Show at the car show

Marana In The Media: Bringing history to life in Marana

The Marana News had a story about this weekend’s Wings of Freedom tour at the Marana Airport.

An interactive tour coming to Marana gives the term “history lesson” a whole new meaning. This WWII plane tour brings real, fully restored World War II-era planes to Marana for a chance to brush up on history and experience what it was like to be around these giant metal birds.

The Collins Foundation is an educational, nonprofit organization that puts the “Wings of Freedom” tours together. Going to over 30 cities across the United States, the tour will take place at the Marana Regional Airport from March 29 to 31. 

The Town of Marana has been one of the tour’s stops for about 15 years, giving the community a little piece of World War II history no one else could provide. Attendees can even hop inside of each plane and take it up into the air with a pilot for a fee. 

Read the rest of the story at the Marana News.

The Wings of Freedom Tour is coming to the Marana Regional Airport from March 29-March 31.