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301 Center Street
Santa
Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: (831) 420-6177
Fax: (831) 420-6457
Email: nelsoncenter@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us
Open 9 am - 9:30 pm Monday - Saturday
Closed on Sundays
Click
here for map and driving directions!
Conveniently located in downtown Santa Cruz, the Community Center
offers a wide selection of rooms to meet your event needs including
classroom, dance studio, theater, dining and kitchen facilities.
Rental
Fees. Request
for Use.
Summer Sale at the Louden Nelson Community
Center on Friday Classroom rentals! For the months of July
and August, reserve a classroom on Fridays any time after 2:00 pm
for half the price! Louden Nelson has a wide selection of classrooms
to meet your event needs including dance rooms and a multi-use room
with kitchen. All classrooms equipped with white boards, projection
screens and sound. Wireless internet access is available. Parking
passes are provided when attending an event at the Center. To reserve
space, call 420-6177.
Equipped with professional lighting and sound systems, raked seating
and spacious dressing rooms, the theater can accommodate a variety
of special events including theater, dance, recitals and speaking
engagements. There is not a bad seat in the house. Call 420-6183.
NEW!
GAME DAY every Friday from 1:00 - 2:30 pm. Bring friends and family of all
ages, eat popcorn and play chess, checkers, dominoes, Yahtzee and other board
games. FREE!
FAMILY DAY AT LAUREL PARK
Saturday, July 11
Noon - 3:00 pm
Play games, blow bubbles, navigate obstacle courses, and create
art. Free throw contest and other basketball games as well. FREE!
Louden
Nelson hosts a variety of classes including dance, martial arts, self-defense
and book clubs. Come down and check out our weekly calendar of classes to find
one that’s right for you!
In addition to an ongoing Memorial
Exhibit honoring local hero, Louden Nelson, the Hallway
Gallery hosts rotating art exhibits featuring works by talented artists in
our community.
Artist
applications are welcome. For additional information, please call the Gallery
Coordinator at 420-6183, or email nelsoncenter@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us. May | AAUW
Scholarship Exhibit | June | African
American / Juneteenth Exhibit |
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The Community Center is
also home to the Downtown Seniors and the Senior
Computer Center of Santa Cruz. Please see the Older
Adults pages for a complete listing of activities and services for older adults
happening at Louden Nelson Community Center. Call 420-6180 for more information.
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For over 25 years this
non-profit has provided childcare for 2 1/2-5 year olds, Monday through Friday,
year round. Experienced long-term staff; developmentally appropriate NAEYC accredited
program. Call (831) 425-8668.
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Free permits are available to
Community Center patrons for nearby parking posted with signs saying "LNCC
Permit Valid". These permits are valid only during Center operating hours
and when attending activities at Louden Nelson. Please inquire at the front desk.
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Click on images below to see 360* panoramas. (Note:
Viewers with slow internet connections may experience long loading times as these
are large files.)
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The
Center's mission is to seek a balance between social, recreational and cultural
services to the diverse communities of Santa Cruz. The Center strives to create
a space that feels welcoming, comfortable, safe and accessible to all who use
it.
Our building, built
as an elementary school in 1932, was designed by William Weeks in the Mission
Revival style. Shortly after the close of the school in 1973, the idea of a multi-cultural
community center took hold. Local activists persuaded City and County governments
to jointly fund the project, and it opened in 1978 as Laurel Community Center
and has served our community for over 20 years.
The name of the Center
was changed to honor Louden Nelson, a former slave who lived in Santa Cruz in
the 1850's. According to early accounts, Louden Nelson was a black man born in
North Carolina in 1800. He came to Santa Cruz about 1853 with his master and was
apparently freed at that time. He obtained land near the river where he gardened
and cobbled. Louden Nelson seemed to be rather well known, selling his produce
to many townspeople.
In 1860, during his final illness and prior to his
death, Nelson made an oral will leaving his entire estate to the school district.
The district had recently closed the school and Nelson had a high regard for education.
Louden Nelson died on May 17, 1860. The Weekly Sentinel printed a remarkable and
lengthy obituary, praising Nelson for his gift to the schools. He is buried at
Evergreen Cemetery, near Harvey West Park.
There are binders available
at the Louden Nelson front desk containing articles and probate papers that will
provide history and background on this remarkable man.
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Louden Nelson, the man and local hero, is honored
with an exceptional piece of public art in the lobby of the Center. You are invited
to view this wonderful piece,
and read about his life and gift to this community.
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Please
email nelsoncenter@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us
to report problems with this
website (Broken Links, Page Not Found, etc.)
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