Welcome To MARA Home on the Web!
Welcome to the Matthews Athletic & Recreation Association Website!!
Mara is located at 1200 South Trade St
In Matthews, NC 28105
@Arthur Goodman Park
We Are Not a Public Park Use of our Park is For Mara Members Only!!
Mailing Address
PO Box 1023
Matthews, NC 28106
Mara Phone Numbers
Main # 704-847-0752
Weather # 704-845-6337
Baseball # 704-845-6342
Softball # 704-845-6345
Football or Basketball 704-845-3674
Administration # 704-845-6334
Park Director 704-891-1781
Concessions # 704-847-0177
Concession Hours:
Monday-Thursday 5:30-8:30pm
Saturday 8:30am-6pm
*Hours are subject to change based on field usage or weather conditions*
(Friday and Sunday TBD by Scheduled Events and Tournaments)
Proudly serving Coke products and Domino's Pizza
Both Stands Now Accept Cash or Credit/Debit Cards AND ApplePay! ($3 Minimum)
Visa, Master Card & Discover
Lost and Found Is Located near Main Concession in the Breezeway in front of the Restrooms
You can call this number during Concession Hours to check for lost and found 704-847-0177
Mara is a 501(c)3 Non Profit Organization
All Donations Made to Mara are Tax Deductible
We are a family oriented volunteer organization that provides a fun environment, quality facilities, expert instruction, and the highest level of coaching to ensure every child has an enjoyable learning experience with the opportunity to reach their full potential. We realize that the success of any organization requires various leaders at all levels. We certainly could not operate or be successful without the endless commitment of all administrators, coaches, volunteers, and you, the valued members of the organization.
We hope this website will provide useful and valuable info for all MARA sports. We provide current key contacts, schedules and tournaments for the upcoming or current seasons. Please be sure to visit regularly to get the latest updates. Matthews Athletic and Recreation Association is an equal opportunity organization. We work with families with financial difficulties to offer scholarships so all kids can participate.
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HEADLINES  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Park Rules
03/23/2018
Mara Members:
Lately we are having problem with... | | | | | | | | | |
| | | DICKs Shop Days Aug 15 & 16 - 20% Off Entire Purchase | BetterMed Urgent Care Now Offers 3 Types of Covid-19 Testing 
BetterMed Urgent Care is pleased to announce that they are offering a new FDA EAU approved COVID-19 Antigen test for active infection which will allow for results to be available in about 15 minutes!
The 3 tests available:
1. Antigen Rapid Test and Medical Evaluation (active infection)
2. PCR Test and Medical Evaluation (active infection)
3. Antibody Test and Medical Evaluation (past expoure or previous infection)
Medical evaluations and testing will occur inside the location. Upon arrival patients should still stay in their car and call the location.
All patients need to bring a mask to wear during their appointment.
In addition to collecting a specimen for testing, we perform a medical evaluation and exam to examine a patient’s vital signs, making sure they do not have a very high fever, are not hypoxic, have a rapid heart rate or a rapid respiratory rate.
It is critically important to check the lungs and heart to make sure a patient is not in distress or have clinical evidence of pneumonia, which could be an indication that they need to be admitted to a hospital.
All patients must make an online appointment before arriving at www.bettermedcare.com.
Matthews, NC
Hours: 8 AM - 6 PM
2304 Matthews Township Pkwy, Suite 104
Matthews, NC 28105
980-296-2220
Charlotte, NC
Hours: 8 AM - 6 PM
1431 South Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28203
704-709-1171
| Sign Up Now! Camps @ MARA - Baseball, Softball, Football & Rugby | Money Saving Coupons from Dick's Sporting Goods | MARA Members,
Greetings from the MARA Board. We hope all our MARA Members are continuing to stay safe and healthy during this time of uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic. The MARA Board continues to monitor the recommendations of Mecklenburg County, Town of Matthews, State of North Carolina and the CDC as we prepare for opening our communities in a phased approach. With the stay at home order expiring on May 8, 2020 we will now be able to consider options for opening Arthur Goodman Park. With that task the MARA Board has developed “MARA Next Steps” committee to address this process using the utmost care to protect our children, parents, and volunteers.
MARA Next Steps:
The State of North Carolina has now entered Phase 1 of the plan to reopen the State. Under phase 1 we are not able to fully reopen the park. We will be able to have controlled openings allowing 10 or less people per field over the next several weeks. We will be sending out a schedule of openings and sign up opportunities.
As the state transitions to phase 2 and allows gatherings of more than 10 people we can then slowly reopen the park. As phase 2 is implemented, all sports will begin a 1-week practice and warm up session to get our athletes back in play condition. After the 1-week warm up we will begin a Spring/Summer season for Baseball, Softball and Flag Football lasting thru June and July. Details for each sport will be sent out by the Next Steps Committee 1 week prior to reopening.
Safety is our number one concern. During the Spring/Summer season, sports as we know them will be a little different. Dugouts will be closed off and benches sectioned off on the football fields. Players will need to spread out and maintain safe distances. Parent participation will be limited to meet the max number of participant guidelines. Hand sanitizing stations will be located at each field. Players will be encouraged to wear face masks. Gear will not be shared amongst players. High fives and hugs will be replaced by encouragement from a distance. Our restrooms will be cleaned and maintained daily. It will take each of us to make this happen safely.
As we consider a phased opening approach for MARA we understand that it may not be the right opportunity for all of our members. With that, we are providing the following options for our members to opt out:
1. If you would like to play this Spring/Summer then do nothing. You will be contacted by your coach as soon as we are able to play ball!
2. Request refund of the full spring season registration amount paid minus the cost of uniforms and expenses (varies per sport and league) incurred prior to the halt of the spring season.
3. Choose not to play and transfer spring fees paid minus cost of uniforms and expenses (varies per sport and league) towards future sports registration.
4. Choose not to play and donate full spring registration amount to MARA a 501(c)(3) non-profit org.
Refund requests can be made at mararefund@gmail.com. Please include sport, league and player name you are requesting a refund for. If you would like to donate your registration fee and not participate in the season, please indicate that in your email and we will provide you with tax deductible gift letter. We request that all refund requests be made by May 23, 2020.
As we continue thru the next couple of weeks please join us in sharing how your and your families are spending your time by posting your pictures in the #MARAMAGIC campaign!
Wear your favorite MARA jersey and send us a "quarantine" snapshot showing #MARAMAGIC. Send to MARAMajorsLeague@gmail.com. Pictures will be shared via Instagram and Facebook and a select few will be chosen for our next Newsletter. Don't forget to follow: mara_sports on Instagram and Matthews Athletic Recreation Association on Facebook
Thank you for being a MARA Member and being patient as we all strive to safely get back to the ballpark!
Sincerely,
Anthony Andujar
MARA President 2019-20
| MARA Members,
I hope this email finds you and your families well. The MARA Board continues to monitor the recommendations of Mecklenburg County Health Dept, State of North Carolina and CDC as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to develop. In keeping with the requirements of State of North Carolina’s Executive Order No.121 issued on March 27, 2020, MARA will delay the start of the spring sports season to at least May 1, 2020 to stay in compliance with Governor Cooper's request.
It is the desire of the MARA Board to continue to monitor this situation and adapt. At no time to do we desire to put our members, volunteers or parents at risk. With that said we do plan to continue with our spring season when able.
Please continue to stay safe, follow the North Carolina Stay at Home Order, and follow the guidelines from the CDC for Covid-19 to navigate thru this difficult time.
Thank you,
Anthony Andujar
MARA President 2019-20
| Let’s Rally to Support MARA Sponsors To our MARA Family,
As the Covid-19 situation unfolds and we all patiently wait more information has been released from Governor Cooper in regard to dining out:
MARA’s highest priority continues to be the health of our membership and we will continue to monitor the evolving impact this virus has on our community as well as at our Complex. MARA sponsors play a large role in helping us offer a quality, affordable, safe and fun rec experience for our children. Not only our sponsors but all community businesses will be affected by this pandemic. If you do need to pick up take-out food please consider supporting our MARA sponsors below. Feel free to thank them for their support and mention you are a MARA family.
| Brakeman's Coffee & Supply |
Nothing But Noodles |
| Brooklyn Pizza Parlor |
Pizza Peel & Taproom |
| Char Bar No. 7 |
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory |
| Dairy Queen |
Stack's Kitchen |
| Domino's |
Taziki's Mediterranean Café |
| Jekyll & Hyde Tap House |
The Local Scoop |
| Jersey Mike's |
Tropical Smoothie Café |
| Mac's Speed Shop |
True Crafted Pizza |
| Mario's Restaurant |
Velo Pops |
| MOD Pizza |
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Our grocery sponsors Harris Teeter & Publix have adjusted store hours as follows:
Harris Teeter – 7am – 8pm
Publix – 8am – 8 pm
BetterMed Urgent Care, newest MARA sponsor, is available for COVID-19 Testing ONLY. No symptoms needed. Visit includes test and exam. Results back within 24 to 48 hours. Accept all insurance plans except Medicaid. They are located at 2304 Matthews Township Pkwy, Suite 104, Matthews (Hobby Lobby shopping center). Hours are 8am – 6pm seven days a week. You must reserve an appointment at https://www.bettermedcare.com.
Dick’s Sporting Goods will be closing their stores until April 2. Mobile and online ordering is available with curbside contactless pickup at the Matthews location as well as other Charlotte area stores.
Below is a list of our other sponsors:
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AAA Collectibes
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Dr. Mark M. Petryna, DDS
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Pediatric Dentistry of Matthews
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AlphaGraphics South Charlotte
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Elevation Church
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Point Blank Range - Training Academy
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Andujar Construction
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Event Images
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PQI Consulting
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Armstong Transport Group
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Farm Bureau Insurance
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Precison Plumbing
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Barringer Construction
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Friendly Dental
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ProLift Garage Doors
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BCJ Insurance
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Goodwin Custom Homes
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Queen Bee Mosquito Control
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Big Air - Temporarily Closed
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Great Clips
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Queen City Christie - Richards Properties
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Black Pest Prevention
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Handymen Home Improvement
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RimTyme
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brush'd salon
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HM Oral Sugery
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Robinson Orthodontics
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Carolina Title Ventures
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Horrigan Group
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Sam's Xpress Car Wash
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Carotek
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Hull & Coleman Orthodontics
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Septic Enviornmental Solutions
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Charlotte Checkers
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J & K Painting
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Sport Clips of Matthews McKee Farms & Matthews Festival
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Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat & Associates
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Kim Anslow eXp Realty
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Starr & Dickens Orthodontics
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Charlotte Knights
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Land O' Frost
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SteelFab
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Chris Swecker Law
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Landmark Dentistry
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Sunset Slush of the Queen City
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Coldwell Banker - Tina Whitley
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Law Offices of William K Goldfarb
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Team Church
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Construction Supply Inc.
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Lowe's Matthews
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Town Planner
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Covenant Day School Summer Camps
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Matthews Animal Clinic
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Towne Insurance
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Davies, Goldstein & Associates, CPA's
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McClintock Heating & Cooling
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Universal Home Solutions
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Dimension Building Specialist
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McKee Dental
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Volvo Cars Charlotte
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Discount Floor Covering Outlet
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Milwaukee Tool
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Weaver Budd Law
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Williams Subaru
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As we continue to closely track developments regarding COVID-19, our future decisions will be made with our membership as our top priority.
Thank you for being part of the MARA family and we hope that your family stays well!
Best,
Monique Brooks
Sponsorship Director
| MARA Park Closing - March 12 March 12, 2020
Dear MARA Members,
Considering the recent mandates by the Mecklenburg County Health Dept, State of North Carolina and the CDC the MARA Board has decided to suspend all sports activities and close Arthur Goodman Park until Saturday April 4, 2020. This will include canceling our opening day celebration, scheduled games, team practices and individual use of the park. This will also include suspension of all activities of our travel baseball and travel softball teams.
Over the next few weeks, we will continue to monitor the current environment around Covid-19 and make decisions based on the recommendations of our community services. If activities need to be suspended beyond April 4th we will provide timely communication and information of such a delay.
Baseball uniforms will be distributed to your team’s coaches over the next few weeks and distribution will occur before April 4th. Please look for communication directly from your coaches.
Flag football helmet distribution scheduled for Friday March 13th has been cancelled. Commissioner Deon will reschedule distribution prior to start of season.
Thank you for your patience during this trying time.
Sincerely,
Anthony Andujar
MARA President 2019-20
| | Vehicles Parking On Sidewalk (Reminder) Mara Members:
The Matthews Police Department has ask MARA to communicate to parents & coaches that when parking in the front parking lot (closest to South Trade Street), vehicles SHOULD NOT PARK on the Sidewalk. There are many citizens who use that sidewalk, including parents pushing strollers, and over the past few weeks, they have observed several vehicles either pulling (straight in parking) to far on to the sidewalk and some (parking parallel) parking half on the side walk and half on the gravel.
They know it is Mara's desire to be "good neighbors", and they do not want to have to issue $50 parking fines, but officers will have to to this if violations continue.
MARA Communications
| Just a Reminder Lightning Warning System
WEATHER WARNING SYSTEM
Safety of the players, spectators, and officials is our main concern at MARA
No weather event is more dangerous than lightning. Because of this
threat, we have installed the Thorguard Lightning Prediction System.
This system can provide advance warning of a lightning hazard, allowing
you the time to seek shelter. The system continually monitors and
evaluates the electrostatic atmosphere and predicts the probability
of a lightning hazard in the immediatearea of our facility.
You will be alerted by one loud horn blast that will last 15 seconds.
Upon hearing the horns, everyone should seek shelter immediately.
When this occurs, strobe lights located on the top of the horns
will activate and remain active while under a weather alert.
Every attempt should be made to seek shelter in a safe environment like a permanent building or car. The Thorguard system will determine when conditions are safe to return. Three 5-second blasts will indicate that all is clear and the strobe lights will cease operation.
ALWAYS AVOID THE FOLLOWING:
Athletic Fields & Bleachers
Open Areas
Field Lighting Poles
Isolated Trees
High Elevation
Questions regarding Weather and Field Conditions contact
Mara Weather Line: 704-845-6337 or your Commissioners.
| Mara Members:
Lately we are having problem with families bringing their dogs to games and practices. Mara does not allow dogs in the Park. Please review our park rules before coming to the Park. This is for your safety and the safety of all members.
NO Dogs Allowed In the Park
NO Inappropriate Use OF Language
NO Handguns Or Weapons Of Any Kind
NO Drugs Allowed In the Park
NO Alcoholic Beverages
NO Tobacco Use Of Any Kind (cigarettes, vaporizers, chewing tobacco, etc.)
NO Bicycles
NO Motorized Bikes, Go Carts, ATV'S OR Scooters
NO Skateboards, Hoverboards, Roller blades, or Roller Skates
NO RC/ Airplanes, Model Rockets
NO Fireworks
NO Kicking or Batting Balls Into Fences
NO Climbing Fences Or Trees
NO Climbing On Buildings Or Roofs
NO Parking on Sidewalks or access road that connects our park with the Courtney Neighborhood (Matthews Police will ticket YOU!
Please do not park in the Concession Managers spot she has to unload supplies and needs to park near concessions
Park at you own risk Mara is not responsible for your vehicle or you property.
Handicapped Parking at MARA
Please be respectful of the Handicapped parking spaces. If you do not have a placard that allows you to park there, you will risk a fine and having your car towed.
Mara Is A Privately Owned And Operated Complex. It Is Not A Public Park. Use of Fields Are For Association Members Only. Unauthorized Use Of This Property Will Be Viewed As Trespassing. Violators Will Be Prosecuted For Any Of The Above.
| Cars Left in Parking Lot after 10PM Dear MARA Families,
Please do not leave your car in the parking lot as we like to lock the gate at 10pm. Your car could be subject to be locked in and you would not be able to get it until the following day. Thank you for your coorporation on this.
In an ongoing effort to make the Matthews Athletic & Recreation Association the finest youth sports organization in the area, we are making several improvements and additions to our park security. These features will protect the organizations assets as well as providing an extra level of safety to you and your children.
First and foremost, many of you may have already noticed the security gates at the park entrance at the stoplight. These gates are currently locked open to allow everyone time to adjust to seeing them. We will begin utilizing these gates on a daily basis on September 1, 2017. The Board of Directors has adopted Park Hours that will be enforced. The new park hours are as follows:
Monday – Friday: Park opens at 3:00 pm and closes at 10:00 pm
Saturday: Park opens at 7:00 am and closes at 10:00 pm
Sunday: Park opens at 10:00 am and closes at 8:00 pm
There will be numerous signs posted around the park grounds stating the new hours as well as being posted on the MARA website.
During the Winter months (Mid-November through Mid-February) the gates will remain closed on most days as our primary field sports, baseball, softball and football; are off season. During summer months, the weekday hours will adjust to an 8:00 am opening to allow for All Star team practices and to accommodate the numerous summer camps held at MARA.
The upper parking lot will not be gated and will be open year round for MARA members to park and utilize the park grounds during operating hours when the main gates are locked during the Winter.
Our second measure of security is the installation of video surveillance cameras for the park grounds and property. We have a number of cameras that are being installed and will record 24 hours a day to provide video evidence for vandalism, theft and other crimes.
Thank you for being a part of this wonderful organization and supporting the new security enhancements to the park!
| Handicapped Parking At Mara
Handicapped Parking at MARA
Please be respectful of the Handicapped parking spaces. If you do not have a placard that allows you to park there, you will risk a fine and having your car towed.
by Mara Board posted 09/19/2016 | IMPORTANT INFORMATION PLEASE READ MARA Members,
Due to a large number of occurrences of other members’ cars being boxed in, we are being forced to contract with Williams Wrecker towing company in order to tow any car that has boxed in another member’s car.
We understand that parking can be problematic at times but the instances we’ve seen in the last few weeks seem to be more around lack of awareness and not taking a few minutes to ensure the cars around you have a way of exiting their spots. Just this past weekend we had a situation that could have turned into a medical emergency as a result of a member’s elderly grandparent being stuck out in the sun and not able to leave for more than 90 minutes due to being boxed in.
During the week of April 29th we will begin posting signs around the parking lots to ensure there is awareness of this need. Once all the signs are in, we will begin towing the situation arises. If your car is towed, you will need to contact Williams Wrecker (704) at 847-9309 to retrieve your vehicle from their facility on Industrial Drive in Matthews. There will be a fee of at least $120.
We apologize for having to take this action but out of consideration towards our membership, we feel this is the right action to take. Please use this weekend to start looking around after you park to ensure the cars around you are able to exit.
Regards,
The MARA Board
| Chesney Glen Parking Issue MARA Members:
I hope everyone is enjoying the season!
Thank you for your patience and understanding regarding our crowded parking lot during the busy fall season. We are hoping to have 40 additional parking spaces on the MARA complex in early 2014 or sooner.
The Mathews Police Department has notified us that anyone parking in the Chesney Glen Subdivision must do so in a fashion that does not impede traffic or visibility into and out of the neighborhood. In addition, anyone parking in front of a residence must stay on the road and not in a yard without blocking access into a driveway.
Any improper parking issue within the Chesney Glen Subdivision can result in a citation and/or towing of a vehicle(s).
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