Ben Lomond County Park has been awarded a Blue Plaque by the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History recognizing the park’s historic significance.
The Ben Lomond Village Alliance will celebrate the designation during the Ben Lomond Village Market on Saturday, Sept. 5, at noon. Local historian Ronnie Trubek will share remarks about the park’s history and its importance to the Ben Lomond community.
“This recognition arrives at a particularly meaningful time for the park,” said Sarah Jansen-Mount, president of the Ben Lomond Village Alliance. “As we honor its history, we’re also seeing the park come alive as a gathering place for a new generation. Our goal is to create more opportunities for neighbors to connect while celebrating the character and history that make Ben Lomond so special.”
The Village Market runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the park and along Mill Street beside the San Lorenzo River. It features live music, locally grown produce, baked goods, prepared foods, handmade crafts and community organizations. The September market also will include children’s activities, including a Brick Lab station and tumbling station presented by the Boulder Creek Recreation and Park District.
The Sept. 5 and Oct. 3 markets will be the final two Village Markets of the 2026 season.
The park also has hosted community potlucks, square dances and other gatherings as part of an effort to bring renewed activity to the park and Mill Street.
Upcoming events include the second annual Ben Lomond Scottish Day from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 19 at the park, featuring Scottish music, dancing, demonstrations, family activities and more.
On Sept. 24, Trubek will present “Tales of Ben Lomond, Part 3: Redwoods to Retreats — The Valley’s Counterculture Years” at Park Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Additional information is available at BenLomondVillage.org.
