New Homes & Lifestyles
Welcome to the Town of Marana - A suburban lifestyle still can be found in a rural setting in Marana, located northwest of Tucson. Cotton fields still dot portions of the town, ranchers herd cattle and horses graze not far from new
"We have the best of both worlds here," said Marana Mayor Ed Honea. "Our rich heritage enables us to move forward with pride. People want to live and do business in Marana."
Marana was incorporated 30 years ago and is home to over 33,000 residents, many of whom recently relocated to the town. In the year 2000, Marana had 14,046 residents.
Kelle Maslyn, Comcast's corporate affairs manager, moved to town last year from unincorporated Pima County. She saw the future, and it was located in Marana. "I moved to Marana because it's a community where things are happening and I wanted to be a part of that," Maslyn said. "With the parks and roads they are building, the businesses they attract and their dedication to the environment, it's easy to see that Marana is committed to building a community with a high quality of place." Comcast's offices are in Marana, which makes Maslyn's commute a short five-minute drive. "It's great to be able to live and work in the same town," Maslyn said.
Location, location, location is what draws builders to Marana. Meritage Homes is one of many major homebuilders in the area, with five communities in town and more on the way. Rudy Carrillo is Meritage's vice president for sales and marketing in the Single Family Division. He said Meritage customers find Marana to be the perfect spot for many reasons. "Tucson and Phoenix aren't that far away," he said. "Living in Marana also gives you the chance to get away from the noise of the city, if you want. It's a very peaceful place."
One built-in advantage the town has is the fact that Interstate 10 runs through the middle of it. "Our downtown is 18 miles of I-10," Honea said. Having the interstate so close enables Marana residents to get from one part of town to another, which comes in handy. The town is 120 square miles and is broken into three areas: Continental Ranch and Reserve, Dove Mountain and Northern Marana.
The area around Continental Ranch is where the majority of Marana's commerce takes place and is home to many long-standing neighborhoods. Dove Mountain is part of the scenic Tortolita Fan, an area that the town works hard to protect. The Accenture Match Play Championship, a PGA TOUR event that features 64 of the world's best golfers, also comes to town every February.
Northern Marana has recently experienced a population boom. It's also where the majority of the town's farm and ranch land are located. There are major plans in place to bring more businesses to this part of town. Development plans include a hospital and a true downtown that will include both shopping and housing.
"Marana is a great place to live, work and play," said Marana Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ed Stolmaker, the organization will soon welcome its 500th member.
Marana's Parks and Recreation Department offers many ways for residents to stay active, with more than 100 programs and classes for children, adults, seniors and those with special needs. "Marana Parks and Recreation continues to cultivate and foster the needs of the community with an open philosophy to meet the ongoing and changing needs of Marana residents," said Darice Larriva-Johnson, who has been with the department for 10 years.
Residents feel safe because of the efforts of the town's police department and Northwest Fire Department. The police department has a ratio of roughly one officer per 400 residents and Northwest Fire responds to 85 percent of its calls in 6½ minutes or fewer. Both MPD and Northwest Fire personnel are active in the community, raising money for charity and educating the public on safety issues.
"We are dedicated to earning the trust and respect of the community by placing a high priority on community involvement, professionalism and commitment to excellence," said MPD Chief Richard Vidaurri.
Another reason families are drawn to Marana is its excellent educational system. The Marana Unified School District has more than 13,000 students and 1,800 staff. The 17-school district is home to the state's 2007 teacher of the year, Marana High's Kristen Bourguet. Nine MUSD schools received state A recognition in 2006.
Marana is the place to live, work and play in Southern Arizona. The town is projected to be home to more than 60,000 residents in the next decade. "There is tremendous growth potential in Marana," Carrillo said. "It's a great place to live."
