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Former GM Goepp, Former Director Minor and Current Director Schouten Recognized at Diamond Valley Lake Park

Valley-Wide Recreation and Park has re-named streets at Diamond Valley Lake Community Park in Hemet in recognition of three men who have dedicated so much time to help the district grow into one of the largest recreation and park districts in the state.

Streets within the complex were re-named for former General Manager Sam Goepp, former Board Director Larry Minor and current Board Vice President Nick Schouten during a ceremony on March 29. The three have served the district for more than 90 years combined and were responsible for the growth of Valley-Wide over the past 53 years.

“We are honored to recognize three men who have done so much for the San Jacinto Valley through to Valley-Wide Recreation”, General Manager Dean Wetter said. “Without their vision and leadership, thedistrict would not be what it is today.”

Sam Goepp was general manager of Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District for 23 years. Upon Goepp’s arrival in 1985, Valley-Wide had one park. When he retired in 2008, he had grown the district to 35 parks and over 30 miles of streetscapes.

In 1985, youth and adult sports programs served around 600 participants per year. By 2008, the number of youth and adult leagues had grown to more than 21,000 participants. Goepp not only built facilities, but he also built a community that came together to volunteer thousands of hours each year for a better San Jacinto Valley.

Larry Minor served on the Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District Board for 22 years and has always been a leader in the development of the recreation and park district to increase the quality of life in the community.

Minor has been instrumental in the progression of Valley-Wide Recreation in numerous ways. Most fittingly, he was the driving force behind the idea of building Diamond Valley Lake Community Park, which includes an Aquatic Center, eight lighted ball fields, three soccer fields, and the Officer Lesley Zerebny First Responders Memorial Wall.

Retiring from the Board of Directors did not mean retirement from Valley-Wide. Minor and his family continue to donate to our programs and facilities.

Nick Schouten has been a member of the Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District Board of Directors for 47 of the 52 years the district has existed. Currently the vice president of the Board, Schouten also served as president for several years.

A longtime resident of San Jacinto, Schouten is a retired dairy farmer and longtime coach and game official. He has served youth in the San Jacinto Valley for more than 60 years. He was a key member of the group that implemented programs at Valley-Wide after the district was formed in 1972. Like all our Board Members, Schouten has never received compensation or benefits from the district in all the years he has been on the Board of Directors.

Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District is an independent special district created to provide park and recreation services. Our boundaries encompass an 800-square-mile area, which includes the cities of Hemet, Menifee and San Jacinto and the unincorporated communities of Aguanga, French Valley, Winchester, Temecula and Valle Vista.

This press release was submitted to us by Craig Shultz, Valley-Wide Recreation and Park district Public Information Officer. Shultz can be reached at craig@gorecreation.org for more information.