Valley-Wide says Soap Box Derby will not be held this year

Youngsters roll down the hill on Menifee Road during the Soap Box Derby last year. The event will not be held in 2017. Menifee 24/7 file photo

The annual Soap Box Derby, a popular event the last five years, will not be held this year, Menifee 24/7 has learned.

Since its creation in 2012, Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District has sponsored the event, which gives youngsters and their families the opportunity to build their own cars and race side by side for fun and prizes. It has been described as reminiscent of the old "Little Rascals" films, where kids enjoy some good, wholesome fun.

There has been no public announcement concerning the event, which has always been held in September down the hill on Menifee Road south of Holland Road. It is unclear whether the event fell victim to the ongoing strife between Valley-Wide and the City of Menifee.

It's no secret that communication between the two sides has been strained ever since the City of Menifee's application to detach itself from Valley-Wide and take control of parks on the east side of the 215 Freeway. That issue has not been resolved, with city officials weighing their options after a county legislative panel ruled in July that the issue must go to a public election if the City is to pursue the action.

Dean Wetter, general manager of Valley-Wide, said Friday the event was cancelled because "unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to set up the workshops and plan everything that needed to be done." In the past, workshops have been scheduled during the summer to help families build the racers, with the event held the first weekend in September.

Asked for further explanation, Wetter said Valley-Wide was informed by the City of Menifee sometime in June that Valley-Wide would now be responsible for the traffic control plan for the event. In the past, the City has supported the event by coordinating road closures, communication with the public about those closures and all public works aspects of the event.

"By the time we were informed of this, it was a little late in the game," said Wetter, who added that Valley-Wide was just getting ready to plan the workshops. "I was a little surprised about some of the new items placed on Valley-Wide for the event. There's a whole process of putting together a traffic control plan and we felt there wasn't enough time for us to take it over this year.

"However, we know now what has to be done and we plan to bring the event back next year. It's a fun event that we know is very popular with the community."

Wetter, who is out of town on vacation, said he did not recall who the communication came from at the City of Menifee. Meanwhile, two City officials said they were unaware any such communication had been given to Valley-Wide.

"Since the Soap Box Derby is a Valley-Wide event, we really aren’t very involved in the planning and prep other than coordination of street closures through our Public Works Department," Robert Lennox, the City's community services director, wrote in an email to Menifee 24/7. "I have not heard from Valley-Wide on the event for this year and as such, I’m uncertain if Valley-Wide will be having it."

Informed of Wetter's comments, Lennox referred Menifee 24/7 to Jonathan Smith, city engineer and director of public works.

"I did not inform Valley-Wide that they are responsible for all public works aspects of the event," Smith said. "This is the first that I have heard about this issue. In the past, Dean would reach out to me if Valley-Wide needed any support from the public works department for a City of Menifee community event. I am surprised that Dean canceled the Soap Box Derby event without talking to me.

"I will help Valley-Wide with anything involving our community. We are all serving the residents of the City of Menifee."