Welcome to the Matthews Athletic & Recreation Association Website!!

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.

Mara Members:

Here your officers for 2020 

President:  Anthony Andujar

President Elect:  Laura Budd

Secretary:  Amy Abbott

Treasurer:  Steve Brooks

Directors:

Chang Zeng

Kathi Morris

Jeff Lorraine

Ken McCool

Chuck Stafford

Hazel Williams

Chad Bost

Kenny Coble

MARA Members:

Tragically, we recently lost a dear member of the MARA Family, Matt Fiss. He left behind a wife, Lauren, and three children, Ethan, Carter and Kathryn.  Matt spent many hours volunteering for our organization and helping in any way he could.  Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.  If you would like to help the family, you can do so by visiting this link  https://www.gofundme.com/f/MatthewFissMemorial or you can write to this address 3544 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28270.

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



 

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.

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.     

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!
 

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 29^th 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

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).