Music a focus at the Marana Farm Festival

Drew Cooper

One of the staples of Marana’s signature events is live entertainment and the Marana Farm Festival is no exception. This year the Farm Festival boasts three different live music acts.

After dinner the sun starts to go down and the stage opens up for music and dancing. All ages are welcome in the beer garden (must be 21+ to purchase alcohol) to enjoy the festivities.

6:00 P.M. - 6:30 P.M.
MCMT COMMUNITY CHOIR

This choir consists of residents from around Marana ages 13 and up. It's a free choir that brings the arts to the community in a tangible and fun way. They will be performing several pieces to kick start our live music.

 The choir performed at last year’s event and recently put on their first live musical, a performance of the Wizard of Oz. 

6:45P.M. - 7:15 P.M.
CHRIS GRAEBER

Nashville influenced singer and songwriter Chris Graeber comes by his music naturally, growing up in the rolling hills of the Ozark Mountains in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Chris has brought his music, planted roots and now calls Tucson, Arizona his home.  Chris' soothing voice wins over a crowd immediately, with tones similar to Billy Currington, and Thomas Rhett, but really keeps the crowd’s attention when he explodes into song with rich intense vocals similar to Luke Combs and Justin Moore.

7:30P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
DREW COOPER

 Cooper is an acoustic singer-songwriter who mixes a variety of American music styles citing influences as diverse as Garth Brooks and Bruce Springsteen. 

“Drew is one of those rare performers who can turn anyone who attends one of his concerts into a lifelong fan,” reads the bio on his website. “Drew’s charismatic, smiling, laughing style of entertaining can turn crowds of 12 to 12,000 into enthusiastic, on-your-feet participants in a musical journey that excites and moves people of all ages and backgrounds.”

Cooper likes to say that his music reflects his Midwestern upbringing with “the commitment to country values and strong family bonds.” Musically he takes influence from the artists he listened to as a kid, the Red Dirt scene he discovered in his early 20s and his current home in the Southwest. 

“I've always been a performer, acting, singing, just being an all around attention hog,” Cooper said.  “The more I do it, the more I love it. So far the most exciting musical experience I've had came when I wrote ‘Pictures on The Wall’. I wrote and recorded that song on a Wednesday, posted it online, and on Thursday at a gig I had a stranger come up and request that song! What an amazing feeling. My goal is to have that feeling and effect people that instantly and deeply everyday for the rest of my life. I am blessed to be doing what I love and to be able to share it with you.”

Marana Town Talk Episode 4: Lock it or Lose it, Community engagement, Marana Film Office

Left to right: Tourism & Marketing Manager Laura Courtelyou, Police Sergeant Chriswell Scott, former Town Clerk Jocelyn Bronson

Town of Marana has released its fourth episode of "Marana Town Talk", a new government podcast that balances education and entertainment with thoughtful commentary on local current events. 

Communications Manager Vic Hathaway and Communications Specialist Brad Allis kick off the episode with a brief discussion on current events (0:50), followed by a discussion on safety tips with Marana Police Sergeant Chriswell Scott (5:36). Listeners can then learn more about the impacts former Town Clerk Jocelyn Bronson had on the community including details on the Marana Citizens Forum (14:53), before learning more about all the interesting ways Hollywood has used the Marana landscape in the past…and present (24:28). 

audio Only

AUDIO AND VIDEO

Different departments and divisions make Farm Festival fun

A message from Town of Marana Special Events Coordinator Monique Hagberg.

The days are getting shorter and Fall is in the air. We know what that means. Marana Farm Festival is here, and Town of Marana staff is excited to invite the public to Marana Heritage River Park to enjoy a night of rodeo demonstrations, carnival rides, food, and fun.

Residents, visitors, and businesses alike can enjoy a traditional country fair with top-notch family entertainment that combines Marana’s agricultural and rodeo heritage with carnival attractions. There will be games, rides, great food, rodeo demonstrations, and a mutton bustin’ competition. Enjoy live music, explore the petting zoo, and participate in the pumpkin races. Proceeds from the pumpkin races will benefit the Marana-Foothills Optimist Club. 

There will be free parking and event entry, but fees will apply for vendors throughout the park. This year there will also be a one-dollar charge per carnival ride to help manage over-crowding. Town of Marana staff works hard to create events that are as accessible to the public as possible while maintaining costs and ensuring affordable opportunities.  

The Town of Marana Signature Events series is a multi-departmental endeavor to create unique experiences for the Marana community and includes Marana Founders’ Day, Star Spangled Spectacular, Marana Farm Festival, and Marana Holiday Festival & Christmas Tree Lighting. It takes the combined effort of nearly every department to make each event a success. While the public can anticipate interacting with Event and Parks and Recreation staff on event day, there is a tremendous collaborative effort to make things safe and welcoming from behind the scenes.

With anywhere from 3,000 to 17,000 people in one night, there are safety concerns to be considered when designing each event. From security to medical treatment, Marana Police Department and Northwest Fire District work together to ensure public safety.

The event facilities are in top-notch shape due to the combined efforts of Parks and Recreation and Public Works staff. The Traffic Division designs the best setup for getting in and out of the event as well as providing enough available parking, and the Development Services Department works hard to inspect all structures to ensure safety.

The Town’s administration staff is also hard at work making sure all vendors, partners, and contractors are formally processed so the business community can have an engaging presence at Town events.

When all departments come together seamlessly, events are a success. That is once again the goal this weekend for the Marana Farm Festival. 

For more information on Marana Farm Festival and future events, please visit www.MaranaEvents.com. Thank you to our signature event sponsor Core Construction, and additional sponsors Tucson Local Media, Trico Electric Cooperative, Pima County Farm Bureau, 5th Avenue Productions, Red Diamond Rentals, Tucson Kona Ice, Ciao Down, and Post Farms.

See you on the farm!

Marana Farm Festival is this Saturday, Sept 29 from 4-9PM at Marana Heritage River Park.

Ribbon Cutting commemorates completion of Tangerine Corridor Project

On Friday, September 21, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the conclusion of the first phase Tangerine Corridor Project. Officials from the Town of Marana, the Town of Oro Valley, The Regional Transportation Authority, the Pima Association of Governments, and the contractors who worked on the project gathered for a brief ceremony that was concluded with the ceremonial ribbon cutting.

Marana Town Manager Jamsheed Mehta served as the Master of Ceremonies and welcomed everyone to the event before giving a project overview.

Marana Mayor Ed Honea discussed Marana’s involvement with the project as well as the partnership between Marana and Oro Valley on this, and many other, projects.

Oro Valley Mayor Satish Hiremath spoke on behalf of Oro Valley, as well as the Pima Association of Governments, for whom he is the Regional Council Chair.

Andrew Rogers spoke on behalf of the Tangerine Corridor Constructors, which is a partnership between Granite Construction and Borderland Construction.

The Tangerine Road Corridor Project extends approximately 10 miles from Interstate 10 to La Canada Drive and is part of the voter-approved Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) plan. The project widened the road to four lanes, flattened the road, removing the dips and giving it all weather access. The project also included bike lanes, landscaping and a park in the Marana area.

---

GALLERY

Photos provided by Town of Oro Valley.

Parks & Recreation sees an increase in summer participation

The Town of Marana Parks and Recreation Department is currently in the midst of their Fall Into Fun + Fitness campaign, but a look back at their Summer 2018 programming shows that public participation was up.

“The hot summer months did nothing to prevent residents from taking part in the great programming we offer,” said Marana Parks and Recreation Director Jim Conroy. “This is exciting because our staff worked hard to introduce a number of new programs and the public responded to those offerings.”

Dubbed “Soak In Summer Fun” the programming from May to August saw over 2,080 registrations- a 45 percent increase in transactions compared to summer 2017. 

“The recreation team made an initiative to better serve the community by reworking popular programs and introducing new activities that specifically filled programming gaps,” said Recreation Superintendent Corey Larriva.

New programs like horse camps, speed and agility clinics, Boomer Adventure Trips, and Town-led swim lessons filled quickly. Most even had waiting lists. Returning programs like weekly sports clinics, Mini Me Tot Play, and art camps were improved upon and also had increased participation.

As each program concluded, the rec staff solicited feedback through the Town’s survey software. Over 135 surveys were completed and the average program satisfaction rating was 4.5 (out of 5) stars.

Parks and Recreation is excited about the programs being offered this fall. New programs like music lessons, Fitness on the Farm Bootcamp, Red Cross Babysitter Training, and afternoon STREAM classes join familiar favorites like guided hikes, youth and adult sports leagues, and fitness and craft classes to give people a lot of options.

“We really strive to provide something for everyone,” said Conroy. “Whether you are a big time athlete, an aspiring musician, or just want to learn something new, we have a program for you and your family.” 

Browse activities online at: http://www.maranaaz.gov/recreation.

Make Marana 2040: First round of workshops seek input from the public

Building a town or city isn’t just an idea. Be a part of building your own community with the Town of Marana General Plan 2040. 

Town of Marana is hosting the first Marana 2040 General Plan public workshops on Wednesday, October 3 at 6:00 p.m. at the Marana Municipal Complex, and on Thursday, October 4 at 6 p.m. at the Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr. Library.

The General Plan Project team will present the Town’s past and current planning efforts, and an overview of current and emerging planning trends.  The workshop will also include interactive exercises to identify Marana’s vision, community values and future opportunities, which will help with the development of a vision statement for the community.

INVITATION

Marana marketing campaign wins national award

MARANA - Town of Marana received national recognition on Thursday, September 6 with an Award of Excellence from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association for the category Photography Single-Image Use.  

The submission, labeled “Abaaa-ndon Sheep!” featured a photograph of a young competitor at the Marana Cotton Festival Mutton Busting competition holding on tightly as their sheep raced through the rodeo arena. The photograph was captured by J.D. Fitzgerald.  

The intended goal of the photograph and ensuing advertising outreach was to grow the Marana Farm Festival, promote the event as a way to celebrate the Town of Marana rodeo and agrarian roots, and to demonstrate how rodeo is not only a key component of farm life but part of the very fabric of Marana’s rich tapestry. 

The Town not only saw the size of the event grow over time, but saw a huge increase in social media interaction in posts using striking, professional images.

“Outstanding entry presentation and image,” the judges wrote.

“We made an effort to use dynamic images in our event marketing and outreach and the community really responded,” said Communications Manager Vic Hathaway. “We saw more comments and shares on our social media posts about the event, and had over 2,000 more views on our on-line photo galleries.”

Mutton busting is one of the most popular features at Marana Farm Festival, with the next event scheduled September 29, 2018. Visit www.MaranaEvents.com for more information.

The Town of Marana also won a Savvy Award for Special Events: One-Time Events from the City-County Communications & Market Association.

JD Fitzgerald is an award-winning photographer and cinematographer based out of Tucson, AZ. For over seven years JD served as a staff photojournalist winning several awards from the Arizona Newspaper Association and the Arizona Press Club. He has also produced many films local artists and advertising for small/medium sized businesses.

His clients include: Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Congressman Ron Barber, Town of Marana, Marana Unified School District, Marana Police Department, and Northwest Fire District.

The City-County Communications & Marketing Association announced the 2018 winners of its national Savvy Awards Competition during a ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee in Wisconsin. 

The Savvy Awards, held in conjunction with 3CMA’s Annual Conference, recognize outstanding local government achievements in communications, public-sector marketing and citizen-government relationships. The Savvies salute skilled and effective city, county, agency or district professionals who have creatively planned and carried out successful innovations in communications and marketing. 3CMA accommodates local government organizations of all sizes and budget classes by judging entries in several different population groups.

Marana Town Hall Youth Days win national award

MARANA - Town of Marana received national recognition on Thursday, September 6 with a Savvy Award from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association for "Marana Town Hall Youth Days". This one-time event brought Town employee kids to the Marana Municipal Complex to learn more about local government services during the initial days of the Arizona state-wide education walkouts. 

The intended goal of Marana Town Hall Youth Days was to minimize possible impacts on Town of Marana services by providing a program option for Town employees who did not have alternative child programming on April 26 and April 27. It also provided time for Town employees to find alternative child programming options for any subsequent days of school closures. 

"[The event was a] compassionate and heartfelt response to a workplace concern," judges remarked.

Kids ages 6-11 were treated to a diverse itinerary with an emphasis on public service. Fifteen to eighteen kids attended each day. Employees from Town of Marana Communications, Special Events, Police, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Water, Town Council, Town Clerk, and Engineering departments and Northwest Fire District provided educational programming based on existing lesson plans. Mayor Ed Honea also signed an official proclamation declaring April 27, 2018 as "Town Hall Youth Day". Read the proclamation.

Fifteen employees enrolled their children in Marana Town Hall Youth Days. 

"Town Hall Youth Days was an opportunity to respond to employee needs while also enriching their children's education on local government programs and services," said Communications Manager Vic Hathaway. 

Town of Marana includes education as a major component in providing quality public services to the community. Town of Marana offers recurring educational opportunities to the public including Marana Police Explorers, Citizens Police Academy, and Internship/classroom programs. Educational tours are also provided to local scout troops and classrooms, employees frequently serve as speakers in classrooms, and educational displays are prominently featured at the Marana Farm Festival and Marana Founders' Day events. 

The City-County Communications & Marketing Association announced the 2018 winners of its national Savvy Awards Competition during a ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee in Wisconsin. 

The Savvy Awards, held in conjunction with 3CMA’s Annual Conference, recognize outstanding local government achievements in communications, public-sector marketing and citizen-government relationships. The Savvies salute skilled and effective city, county, agency or district professionals who have creatively planned and carried out successful innovations in communications and marketing. 3CMA accommodates local government organizations of all sizes and budget classes by judging entries in several different population groups.

PHOTOS

Learning about Town of Marana Public Works

Marana Water Department gives a lecture on water conservation

Northwest Fire District provides a demonstration

Getting sworn in with the Town Clerk's Office

Conducting a youth council meeting

Home stretch for improvements at I-10 and Ina Road in Marana

As drivers on Interstate 10 pass Ina Road in Marana, they have a clear view of a blank space in the middle of a new bridge that soon will carry Ina Road traffic over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

That small space – where the exit and entrance ramps to westbound I-10 will connect with Ina – is the last major piece in a two-year project to improve traffic flow and driver safety in northwest Pima County.

September marks the start of the final six months on a project that began in February 2017, with completion scheduled by early March.

ADOT is overseeing $128 million in improvements, which are funded by the Federal Highway Administration, the Pima Association of Governments and the Regional Transportation Authority. The town of Marana is contributing $7.9 million toward the cost of the new bridges over the Santa Cruz River west of I-10.

Crews are primarily finishing work that has already started, including creating a new westbound Ina Road bridge over the Santa Cruz River. Girders were put in place earlier this summer, and the concrete deck is set to be poured overnight Thursday and Friday, Sept. 13-14. The eastbound bridge at Ina Road will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. both nights for the deck pour on the westbound bridge.

The westbound Ina Road bridge is expected to open to traffic in January. The eastbound Ina Road bridge, opened in late 2017, is temporarily carrying both directions of traffic.

East of I-10, crews are beginning to work on curbs, gutters and sidewalks before paving begins on Ina Road. The bridge over I-10 is scheduled to open in early 2019. About that time, westbound traffic on I-10 will be moved to new lanes that are currently under construction.

Before work began, Ina Road crossed under I-10, and drivers frequently had to stop for passing freight trains. After completion, Ina Road will cross over I-10 and the railroad tracks. Both Ina Road and I-10 will have an additional lane in each direction to accommodate increasing traffic, with Ina Road improvements reaching west across the Santa Cruz River to Silverbell Road.

The improvements are designed to keep pace with growth in the Marana area while reducing congestion on Cortaro Road.

After work is complete at Ina Road, a similar project is scheduled to begin at Ruthrauff Road. That project will include widening I-10 to four lanes, widening Ruthrauff to two lanes in each direction and building a bridge to carry Ruthrauff over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.  Ruthrauff will be closed at I-10 throughout the 24-month project.

More information on this project is available at azdot.gov/InaTI.

Ina Road to close overnight at the Santa Cruz River Sept. 13, 14

Ina Road at the Santa Cruz River in Marana is scheduled to close overnight Thursday, Sept. 13, and Friday, Sept. 14, west of Interstate 10 for a bridge deck pour.

The closures are scheduled each night between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. the following morning.

The deck pour at the Santa Cruz River was originally planned to be completed from the riverbed. However, because of repeated rain events, the riverbed cannot be used.

During the work, businesses west of the Santa Cruz River will remain accessible from Silverbell Road. Businesses to the east of the river will remain accessible from the Interstate 10 frontage road. However, vehicles will need to use an alternate route across the river.

The overall I-10/Ina Road traffic interchange is currently on schedule. Portions of the interchange are scheduled to begin opening in the spring of 2019.

Learn more on the project website.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov. 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 when driving.

Town Clerk Jocelyn Bronson retires from Town of Marana after 22 years service

After 22 years of service, Town Clerk Jocelyn Bronson is retiring from the Town of Marana. Her last day is Friday, September 7.

Bronson started as the second executive assistant to Town Manager Hurvie Davis, and in March 1999 was appointed as the fifth Town Clerk. During her tenure she served at two town hall facilities, under three mayors, 18 council members and five town managers. When she first came to the Town in 1996, the geographic area was 69 square miles and the population was 6,046 with 137 employees. 

Bronson's departure comes after a long career of significant accomplishments, including developing and facilitating the first Town of Marana Citizens Forum in 2003, serving on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Municipal Clerks Association for six years, serving as Board President in 2007, and serving as an ex-officio board member with the Marana Chamber of Commerce since 1999. She also administered the Citizens Resource and Education Workshop, served as staff to the Marana Business Advisory Committee and the Police Citizen Advisory Commission, and managed the Community Connections program at the Town of Marana. 

Passionate about accessible government and bringing educational opportunities to future generations, Bronson founded the Marana 2.0 internship program with Marana High School and invited high school students to be a part of real-world local government projects. Her program inspired and enriched the interests of Marana's future leaders, and brought local government eduction into the classroom. 

After retiring Bronson plans to travel, take classes, and continue her volunteer work. 

Things to do in Marana in September and Beyond

---

---

---

---

---

---

On The Horizon

Oct 27 - Free Movie In Marana: Casper
Nov 10 - Turkey Trot 5k/10k/Fun Run
Nov 17 - El Tour de Tucson 28-Mile Marana Segment
Dec 1 - Marana Holiday Festival & Christmas Tree Lighting
Dec 8 - Dispose-A-Med
Dec 15 - Electronic Recycling Event

Marana named one of the safest cities in Arizona

The Town of Marana was named one of the top-10 safest cities in Arizona by safewise.com, ranking 6th overall.

The Town scored particularly well in terms of violent crime, with just 3.8 percent of the crimes committed in the Town considered violent crimes. It was the second lowest percentage in the state. Marana had just 0.93 violent crimes per 1,000 residents. The national average is 4.64 per 1,000 citizens.

“Citizens and law enforcement officers of Arizona’s top six safest cities deserve special recognition,” wrote Alexia Chianis on safewise.com. “All of these cities reported fewer than one violent crime per 1,000 people.”

Marana only had 24.41 property crimes per 1,000 residents.

To determine the safest cities in Arizona, safewise.com reviewed the 2016 FBI crime report statistics and population data.

Their evaluation is based on the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery) in each city. If there was a tie, we also factored in the number of property crimes (burglary, arson, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft). To level the playing field, we calculated the rate of crimes per 1,000 people in each city. This makes it easier to directly compare the likelihood of these crimes occurring in cities with vastly different populations.

Read their full report. 

Splash Pad grand opening photo gallery

On Thursday, August 30 the Marana Parks and Recreation held a grand opening ceremony for the new splash pad at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park. The splash pad is the second in the Town of Marana, joining the one at Marana Heritage River Park in North Marana.

View photos from the event:

Marana Parks & Rec Director Jim Conroy

Marana Vice Mayor Jon Post.

Marana Parks & Rec Deputy Director D. Tyrell McGirt.

New splash pad grand opening at Crossroads Park (with video)

On Thursday, August 30 the Marana Parks and Recreation held a grand opening ceremony for the new splash pad at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park. The splash pad is the second in the Town of Marana, joining the one at Marana Heritage River Park in North Marana.

The new 2,400 square foot splash pad features a series of floor geysers, floor lighting, colorful shade sails, and seating integrated within the pad, outside of the water’s reach.At night the splash pad becomes a light show as the shooting water is illuminated from below and it can be programed with a variety of patterns.

The new splash pad is the latest amenity at the park and will be located near the playground and basketball courts, which will soon be undergoing their own transformation. The courts will soon be covered by a permanent solar structure, providing shade for those daytime pick-up games.  

The grand opening ceremony was the public’s first opportunity to experience the splash pad. Marana Parks and Recreation Director Jim Conroy, Deputy Parks and Recreation Director D. Tyrell McGirt, and Vice Mayor Jon Post all spoke before members of the Marana Town Council cut the ceremonial ribbon to formally open the facility.

The splash pad is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and then from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. the light show will run. The splash pad is scheduled to remain open until the end of October.

Marana Parks and Recreation Director Jim Conroy speaks at the grand opening:

Town of Maran Vice May Jon Post speaks at the grand opening:

Marana Parks and Recreation Deputy Director D. Tyrell McGirt speaks at the grand opening:

The public gets to play in the splash pad for the first time:

Night time light show:

Media footage of the splash pad from Tucson News Now:

Marana Police debuts new vehicles and design

The Marana Police Department debuted a new look on Friday as the first of their new silver Chevy Tahoes hit the road. In addition to the new color scheme, the vehicles have a new graphic design package.

Marana Police Chief Terry Rozema worked with Town of Marana Graphic Designer Ramon Armenta on the new design. Armenta, who played a major role in designing the new Town logo a few years back, presented a variety of designs and looks for the vehicle and worked with Marana Police Department to create the final design.

“We tried to give the vehicles a very clean, modern look that fits well with the brand we have created for the Town,” said Armenta.

Chief Rozema presented Armenta with vehicle designs he liked to serve as inspiration. Once Armenta presented his initial designs, Rozema picked his favorite and the two worked together to make some final adjustments. The final result placed emphasis on the word “Marana”, which is significantly larger than the previous designs.

Consistent with the older vehicles, the new Tahoes will continue to feature Marana Police Department’s motto of “Unparalleled Service, Unwavering Protection” and the department’s badge on the side of each vehicle.

The new silver paint scheme is less expensive than the previous black and white design.

The new SUVs are equipped with emergency lights, prisoner screens, communication laptops, prisoner seats, police consoles, storage boxes, emergency first aid equipment, blood borne pathogen kits and more.

The new vehicles have been on the road for just a few days, but the initial reaction has been mostly positive with a number of people on social media posting their support for the new design.

Only new vehicles placed into service will sport the new design. None of the existing vehicles will be repainted. By the end of the year 18 new vehicles will be added, in most cases replacing older vehicles that will be removed from use.

PRESS RELEASE: Ina Road Beautification

In conjunction with Arizona Department of Transportation’s Ina Interchange Project located in Marana, the Town of Marana will begin a comprehensive Ina Road beautification project. The beautification/improvement project is designed to make the area even more appealing for customers when the interchange is complete and Ina Road is fully accessible once again.

Town of Marana will mill and fill 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 will be added to bring additional color and plant life along the corridor. New street lights, sidewalks, and accessibility ramps will improve safety and visibility.

The Ina Road beautification project is scheduled to begin in early September and be completed by mid-winter. Paving work will be completed prior to the holiday shopping season.

For project updates as they come, visit the Marana Newsroom at www.MaranaAZ.gov

PRESS RELEASE: Grand Opening for New Splashpad in Marana

MARANA – Marana Parks and Recreation Department will hold a grand opening ceremony on Thursday, August 30 at 9:00 A.M. to commemorate the opening of the new splash pad at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park located at 7548 N. Silverbell Road.

The 2,400 square foot splash pad is the latest amenity at the park and will be located near the playground and basketball courts.

“We are very excited to give the residents of Marana another destination attraction,” said Marana Parks and Recreation Deputy Director D. Tyrell McGirt. “Splash pads allow everyone to have an interactive, safe, and fun aquatic experience.”

The grand opening ceremony will be the public’s first opportunity to experience the splash pad, and will be held prior to Labor Day weekend. The ceremony will include a short ribbon cutting ceremony, refreshments, and an opportunity to be the first to try out the many amenities.

The splash pad features a series of floor geysers, floor lighting, colorful shade sails, and seating integrated within the pad outside of the water’s reach.

The new splash pad will fit in nicely with the other amenities at the park which include a dog park, athletic fields, a playground, basketball courts, and walking paths with access to the shared use path.

“Parks and park amenities bring people together and build community. The Crossroads at Silverbell District Park splash pad will be another public gathering spot where people can recreate and get to know their neighbors.” said McGirt.

Kids To Park Day a fun introduction to Tangerine Sky Park

On Saturday morning, August 25, over 400 Marana residents came out to enjoy the festivities of “Kids to Park Day” at the Town of Marana's new Tangerine Sky Park. Marana Parks and Recreation staff along with key traffic control assistance from Marana Police personnel, provided families with a fun, safe, positive experience.

Children enjoyed a wide variety of exhilarating and entertaining activities from field games, face painting, large inflatable slides, balloon twist and of course the outstanding new playgrounds and Zip Line. As an extra bonus the first 100 Kids enjoyed a free snow cone.
 
Feedback from those attending this first time event was both positive and appreciative that the Town provides these type of  family orientated community events.

Tangerine Sky Community Park opened on August 10 and is the largest park in Northeast Marana. The 17-acre park located just south of Tangerine Road near Dove Mountain Road has two dog parks and two playgrounds. The playgrounds are designed for children of different ages, one for preschoolers and the other for older kids. One of the features unique to the area will be a zipline-themed swing that will travel a length of 30-feet.

Other features include a lighted basketball court, ramadas, a perimeter walking path with connectivity to the multi-use path on Tangerine, as well as connections to the Tangerine Sky neighborhood.

Marana Parks and Recreation will be hosting a grand opening ceremony for the new splash pad at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park on Thursday, August 30 at 9 a.m.

Marana invites you to Fall Into Fun and Fitness

While the temperatures may not say fall, around the Marana Parks and Recreation Department, fall is in full swing. We are inviting everyone to Fall Into Fun + Fitness by partaking in all of our great fall programming.

We here at the Town are so excited about two new amenities for our residents. On August 10, we officially opened Tangerine Sky Community Park with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The 17-acre park is the largest in Northeast Marana, and will provide plenty of fun and recreation for residents in the area.

On August 30 the new splash pad at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park opens. This is Marana’s second splash pad, joining the facility at Marana Heritage River Park in the Gladden Farms area. This will be another great feature at Crossroads for families to enjoy.

We have something for everyone, from the most diehard fitness enthusiast to people looking for activities for kids. Our programs involve sports, fitness, music, and the arts.

There are plenty of sports and fitness opportunities for both adults and kids. For the grown-ups we have Softball and Flag Football leagues, and our Pickleball League has become very popular. For those who want to work on their volleyball or hoops games, we have our Open Gyms for both basketball and volleyball.

For the kids were will have two separate Pee Wee Soccer leagues, one in South Marana at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park and one in North Marana at Ora Mae Harn Park. Sign-ups are already underway for January’s flag football league, but player evaluations are in October. For those who want to prepare for the season, we have a preseason football clinic that will get athletes up to speed.

We are also offering Tennis lessons for children as young as five years old. After their popularity over the summer, we are bringing back our horse camps for fall break in October.

For all of our runners out there, we have two bit races. In October, we have our second Dirt Dash Trail Run on the Wild Burro Trail. This year we added a 4.6K race to go along with the longer 15.6K race for those who really want to push themselves.

In November, we invite you to prepare for your Thanksgiving feast with the annual Turkey Trot. This year we add a Fun Run to go along with the 5K and 10K distances.

Those who love our amazing trails will have plenty of opportunities to experience the Tortolitas. We have both guided hikes and guided horseback rides.

Steve Berry’s Martial Arts Academy returns for those 6&Up who want to learn self-defense and self-discipline. Want to get in shape? Then our new Fitness on the Farm, boot camp style classes might be what you are looking for.

Marana Game Day – Corn Hole Tournament also returns this year, moving to December 1.

For those who want to learn or experience something new, we have a lot of great programs. We are expanding our music lessons in a partnership with Pima College. This year we will be offering guitar, piano, and Native American style flute classes.

More experienced musicians may want to participate in the monthly Bluegrass Jam sessions, while teens can learn Jazz/Lyrical Dance. Maybe singing and dancing is more your style? Then the Marana Community Musical Theatre may be for you. Last month they put on a wonderful performance of the Wizard of OZ, and they have a lot planned for this year.

Parks and Recreation is partnering with the American Red Cross to provide Baby Sitter Training and Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED classes.

For our residents 50 and up, the Boomer Adventure Trips with excursions to Apple Annie’s in Wilcox, the Patagonia Festival, Madera Canyon, and Winterhaven in December. We will also host a Fall Harvest/Halloween Dine and Dance event at the Marana Heritage River Park.

Whatever your interest, fitness, education, or just plain old fun, Marana Parks and Recreation has something for you. Come check us out.

Jim Conroy is the Town of Marana's Director of Parks and Recreation.