The Town of Marana

ELEVATION: 2,055 feet
POPULATION: 33,000

Schools | Parks | Shopping | Tucson

Located just north of Tucson, the Town of Marana is blending hometown character and tree-lined streets with live-work-play convenience to become one of the most desirable communities in Southern Arizona. The town’s thoughtful approach to growth, award-winning schools and state-of-the-art parks are combining to create a community that welcomes the future while preserving the town’s rich history. For more information, visit the Town of Marana website.

Schools

Approximately 12,000 area students are served by 17 schools including five award-winning "A+" schools and three "National Blue Ribbon" schools. For more information visit the Marana Unified School District website.

Marjorie W. Estes Elementary School
Marana Middle School
Marana High School

Parks

The 16-acre Gladden Farms Community Park features two Little League fields, soccer fields, restroom facilities, separate shaded play structures for both toddlers and older children, orchard-landscaped picnic areas and ramadas. A pedestrian tunnel beneath Tangerine Farms Road safely connects neighborhoods to the park. The park is located within Gladden Farms, at the south end of Lon Adams Road.

The Marana Heritage River Park celebrates Marana’s farming and ranching roots with a 10-acre working farm and historic buildings that will house educational, interpretive and art exhibits. Plans call for fruit orchards, cotton fields and a miniature rail road to take guests around the 90-acre park. The park is located at the west end of Gladden Farms Drive.

The Santa Cruz River Park is underway with a paved two-and-a-half mile multi-use path traveling along the Santa Cruz River from Sanders Road to Tangerine Farms Road. The path is easily accessible from Gladden Farms Farms Community Park. Eventually the path will connect to Tucson’s Santa Cruz River paths and the parks along the way.

The 44-acre Ora Mae Harn Park is just half a mile away from Gladden Farms. The park includes a swimming pool, softball and soccer fields, tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds and a multi-use field — all lighted for safe night use.

Shopping

You'll find just about everything you need in Marana's main shopping districts, just off I-10 at the Cortaro Farms and Ina exits. Many national chains and small locally-owned businesses have established new stores here. The latest additions include Wal-Mart Supercenter, Kohl's Department Store and the 12-screen Tower Cinemas. Many restaurants and grocers also serve the area. Nearby, Foothills Mall at Ina and La Cholla, and The Tucson Mall at Wetmore and Oracle, contain dozens of popular stores and activities. For more information visit the Marana Chamber of Commerce website.

Coming in 2009 to Gladden Farms is the Gladden Farms Marketplace, located at the corner of Tangerine Farms Road and Lon Adams Road. The 22 acre retail center will include a Fry’s Marketplace offering full service grocery, pharmacy, home goods and electronics. The center will also have a Wells Fargo Bank, McDonalds and other services and restaurants.

Currently in the planning stages, the proposed Shops at Tangerine regional lifestyle center will bring more shopping, dining and entertainment options to Marana, including department stores, theaters and restaurants, large-format retailers and specialty shops and boutiques. The center will be located at the northwest corner of Tangerine Farms Road and I-10. Read more about the Shops at Tangerine here.

Tucson

Gladden Farms is located just minutes north of the city of Tucson. For more information, visit the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau website.