The Louden Nelson Community Center is not named after a community icon named Louden. Through a typographical mix-up, so the story goes, the first "N" in Londen Nelson's name was transposed. The center is in downtown Santa Cruz and provides free parking permits for the encircling block inside the center at the front desk. Louden Nelson houses a senior computer center, a teen center, and two rooms that can seat up to 127 people for various community and private events. Outdoors, a large playground is a popular spot for Santa Cruz children. An open field is often home to community events including the Juneteenth Celebration.