Marana Parks and Recreation receives state award for adaptive program

Town staff at the annual Arizona Parks and Recreation Association awards dinner

Marana Parks and Recreation Department took home a state award on Wednesday, August 21 for "Outstanding Adaptive Program" for the 2018 Cape Chase Fun Run. Town staff accepted the award at the annual Arizona Parks and Recreation Association awards dinner.

“As a Parks and Recreation Department, our mission is to provide services for ALL our residents,” said Parks and Recreation Director Jim Conroy. “I’m very proud of our staff for providing a high quality event. The joy that was expressed by both participants and their families was heartfelt and inspiring. Receiving this award from the State Parks & Recreation Association is a significant recognition of our staff’s commitment to serve all our citizens with high quality recreation programs!”

The Cape Chase is one of the many expansions of services created by the Marana Parks and Recreation staff in an effort to reach previously underserved portions of the community. This non-competitive course is designed for tots, youth, teens, families and participants with disabilities who seek adventure and want to stay active.

“The team at Marana Parks and Recreation have a track record of getting creative,” said Recreation Superintendent Corey Larriva. “Historically and regionally, adaptive recreation services are a limited program area. When looking to expand offerings in Marana, I had no doubt the staff would develop something high-quality, innovative, and fun. Cape Chase will be a staple in Marana for years to come.”

Recreation Coordinator Kevin Goodrich and Recreation Programmer Olivia Salazar developed and organized the event, and 130 participants registered for the first time.

ARIZONA PARKS AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION AWARDS

Arizona Parks and Recreation Association Awards honors communities throughout the State of Arizona that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management and innovative approaches to delivering superb parks or recreation services with fiscally sound business practices. A panel of park and recreation professionals reviews and judges all application materials. Judges are chosen for their considerable experience and knowledge in parks and recreation on both local and national levels. The state-wide award includes twelve categories and in 2019 had over 53 submissions. Marana’s Cape Chase was recognized as the Outstanding Recreation Award for Adaptive Recreation.