World returning to Marana in 2013

It’s official: The Accenture Match Play Championship is coming back to Marana in 2013.

When the event is held next Feb. 18-24, it will mark the seventh consecutive year the PGA TOUR has come to Marana. It’s a tremendous honor and one we take seriously.

Our police department, traffic engineering and operations and maintenance personnel will ensure that fans and players have an enjoyable and safe experience. The Town will continue partnering with local Accenture Match Play officials to promote the tournament to a worldwide audience through our popular web site and social media outlets.

The Town worked closely with The Gallery Golf Club the first two years the event was held here. For the past four years, the good people at the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain Golf Club have been our partners. Both venues and their staffs are top-notch and have done their part to make the Accenture Match Play such a success.

We also hope the event makes Marana its long-term home. PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said during tournament week this year that the event was committed to Southern Arizona through 2014. As the mayor and a member of this community, I hope that means we have Match Play in Marana for at least two more years.

We look forward to the 2013 tournament and another opportunity to show the world what a special place we have in Marana. This regional event proves that, when given the opportunity, individual communities can make Southern Arizona the kind of place that people want to visit and live. There’s no overestimating the value of having the Accenture Match Play in our backyard every year.

State of the Town

Everyone knows I love talking about Marana. The State of the Town Luncheon crowd on April 13 proves that there also are a lot of people who like hearing about our community.

The event was a sellout, with 400 people from across the region coming to the beautiful Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. I believe we gave the attendees more than enough good news for them to leave the luncheon even more excited about living or doing business in Marana.

The speech was framed around the Town’s Strategic Plan II and how our Council and management use it in all the decisions we make. The plan’s five focus areas – commerce, community, heritage, progress/innovation and recreation – remain the same as when the original version was adopted in 2009.

What has changed are the plan’s priorities. The world has changed in many ways over the past three years and Strategic Plan II reflects that fact. We incorporated the feedback we received from our residents and business owners during community forums and open houses earlier this year.

We also highlighted the many ways in which we work with our neighbors, especially Oro Valley, Sahuarita and Tucson. When one community is successful, we all win.

We talked about our strong bonds with community partners, including the Marana Health Center, Marana Unified School District, Marana Heritage Conservancy, Community Food Bank, the Northwest and Avra Valley fire districts. All of these groups provide important services that improve the experience of living in Marana.

The Town appreciates the Marana Chamber of Commerce for all its work in organizing the event. We also owe a debt of gratitude to the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain for hosting for the third consecutive year.

The event happens only through the support of local industry. The Chamber and Town thank Signature Sponsor CalPortland and the many other great businesses that contribute to the State of the Town’s success.

We are lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world where the possibilities for success are endless. The many people who serve the Town do everything they can to ensure that future generations have opportunities to experience all we have come to love about Marana. I look forward to continuing to report this community’s many highlights both at the State of the Town and throughout the year.

Bike to Work Day

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Headed to the Marana Health Center

Many of you know that I love hiking. Marana has many beautiful trails that run through our great community. But in addition to great hiking trails, Marana is also a recreation destination for many other forms of outdoor activities, including cycling. On April 6, the Town partnered with the Marana Health Center to hold “Bike to Work Day” an event intended to encourage our employees and residents to stay active and healthy.  Recreation is a focus area of the Town’s Strategic Plan, and I was happy to put the rubber to the road and participate in this great annual event.

My day started at 6 a.m. when I dusted off my mountain bike, grabbed my helmet and headed down to Gladden Farms Park to meet with Town employees to make the 3-mile ride to the Marana Health Center. The weather was beautiful, the ride was enjoyable and we all had healthy snacks waiting for us when we reached the Health Center. I encourage everyone to take the time to enjoy a bike ride with their families. Many of our roads have dedicated bike lanes to promote safe cycling. Marana is also home to a couple of great biking events. The Tour of the Tucson Mountains starts and ends at the Marana Municipal Complex on April 28.

Now that I’m back on the road with my bike, I look forward to seeing our residents and visitors enjoying our Town’s many cycling trails. Biking is a great way to get a little exercise, see the great outdoors and have fun with family and friends.