A Tour of Marana

My first day as management intern for Marana involved a tour of the town. Josh Wright, Director of Strategic Initiatives, took Amanda and me through the neighborhoods and communities. I was amazed at the potential of the town, and the firm foundation that has been placed to accommodate growth.  Here is a layout of my observations in relation to the five focus areas of the Marana Town Council.

1.        

Marana strives to attract and maintain career-oriented commerce. We discussed the desire by large businesses to be a part of the town while visiting prominent business centers in town. In order to encourage more development, Marana plans to partner with businesses, provide realistic incentives, develop a first class workforce, recruit and retain diverse employment opportunities, and provide the highest quality of customer service.  

2.       

A safe and clean environment where diverse people are encouraged to be involved and feel connected is an important focus area of Marana. This value is clearly seen in the effort placed on maintaining streets, addressing graffiti, and upholding an overall clean appearance of the community. Josh spoke of the town’s attempt to help citizens across different socioeconomic conditions by assisting specific neighborhoods. It is evident that Marana wants all neighborhoods to be included in their vision of growth, and work together in order to grow together. 

 

3.      

Marana has a deep history that involves the settlement of the Hohokam Native Americans and the Spanish Conquistadors and missionaries during the 17^th century. In addition to having a small museum in the Marana Municipal Complex, the town hopes to establish a larger museum in the future in order to encourage community members to feel a sense of character that includes past, present, and future identities.

4.       

Marana wishes to foster an atmosphere that encourages change, creativity, and innovation.  One of the more distinctive qualities of the neighborhoods is the emphasis toward building homes that are artistic and colorful. And what did Marana choose to do with an old sand and gravel quarry that was no longer in use? Turn it into a golf course!

5.       

Recreation is a prominent value, where the Sonoran desert environment provides diverse recreational opportunities that create economic benefits and encourages a healthy lifestyle. Parks are located close to every neighborhood, and are commonly home to fun events that promote community involvement.  

While my experiences today couldn’t possibly cover every aspect of the town’s focus areas, I believe that what could be seen from the surface is a big indicator of how prevalent the focus areas are in the community values.