Ben Lomond Park upgrade in the works

As much as $1 million is available to refurbish Ben Lomond Park on Mill Street, and the Santa Cruz County Parks Department is asking for community input as to what kind of work should be done.
County parks director Joel Schwartz and planners Bob Olsen and Cristina James will attend meetings this month in Ben Lomond to solicit ideas from local residents.
“I think we’re going to find out what is realistic,” said Thomas Wynn, a Ben Lomond resident and president of the San Lorenzo Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Ben Lomond Park has a well-used basketball court and a play structure, and the iron pieces that once dammed the river in summer lie dormant on the beach next to the park.
While restoring the dam is a multimillion-dollar task, Wynn said he hopes the parks department will restore beach access so people can get to the river.
The money comes from Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006. California voters approved the initiative to pay for nearly $5.38 billion in improvements across the state.
“It’s exciting,” Wynn said. “Any improvement will be very welcome there.”
At a glance
Two community meetings are planned to discuss upgrades to Ben Lomond Park on Mill Street.
• WHEN: 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12
• WHERE: Highland Park Senior Center, 8500 Highway 9, in Ben Lomond
• INFO: Thomas Wynn, 336-4367
• WHEN: 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14
• WHERE: Ben Lomond Fire District, 9430 Highway 9, in Ben Lomond
• INFO: John Charcho, 336-5495