Naples, Long Beach

{{distinguish|text=Naples, a town in Santa Barbara County, California}}

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|image_caption=Naples Island is in the middle distance in this photo, with Belmont Park in the foreground, Belmont Shore to the right, and The Peninsula and the neighboring city of Seal Beach beyond, looking southeast.

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|subdivision_name2 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Los Angeles County, California.svg}} Los Angeles

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|subdivision_name3 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Long Beach, California.png}} Long Beach

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Naples is a neighborhood of Long Beach, California, United States, built on three islands located in Alamitos Bay. The islands are divided by canals which open into the bay. Most of the streets on the island have Italianate names. The center of Naples features a large fountain which serves as a popular meeting spot. The city was named after the Italian city Naples.

History

File:Untitled - Sports (NBY 3751).jpg

Naples was once marshland within the artificial Alamitos Bay, at the mouth of the San Gabriel River. Around 1903, Arthur M. Parsons raised $500,000 from investors and purchased the marshland from the Alamitos Land Company. Construction began in August, 1905, reshaping the existing land and water into the three islands of Naples.{{cite web |last1=Masters |first1=Nathan |title=From Marshland to Italian Village: The Creation of Naples, Long Beach |url=https://www.kcet.org/shows/lost-la/from-marshland-to-italian-village-the-creation-of-naples-long-beach |website=KCET |language=en |date=9 August 2017}} The design was by the firm Mayberry & Parker,{{cite book |title=An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles |first=David |last=Gebhard |author2=Robert Winter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WWl29hn0C9gC&pg=PA110 |page=110 |accessdate=2010-07-26 }} who also contributed to the Hotel Wentworth in Pasadena.{{cite web |title=PCAD - Mayberry and Parker, Architect and Engineer |url=http://pcad.lib.washington.edu/firm/1088/ |website=pcad.lib.washington.edu}} The concept of canals and gondolas was similar to the "Venice of America" developed by Abbot Kinney up the coast. Parson's Naples Land Company called its plans the "Dreamland of Southern California," and projected that "through the canals and under the high arching bridges gay gondoliers will propel their crafts like those in the waters of the Adriatic under the blue skies of Italy."{{cite book |title=A history of California and an extended history of Los Angeles and environs |first=James Miller |last=Guinn |publisher=Historic Record |year=1915 |url=https://archive.org/details/ahistorycalifor01guingoog |page=[https://archive.org/details/ahistorycalifor01guingoog/page/n485 459] |accessdate=2010-07-26 }} The project was completed in the 1920s. The seawall was rebuilt in 1938{{cite news |last1=Segura |first1=Joe |title=Naples Island residents to consider design of restored seawall |url=https://www.presstelegram.com/2014/01/09/naples-island-residents-to-consider-design-of-restored-seawall/ |work=Press Telegram |date=9 January 2014}} following the 1933 Long Beach earthquake.{{cite book |title=Los Angeles A to Z |first=Leonard |last=Pitt |author2=Dale Pitt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0vtSkPtR-PQC&pg=PA351 |page=351 |accessdate=2010-07-26 }}

File:California - Long Beach - NARA - 23934457.jpg in 1936]]

From 1904 to 1950, the neighborhood was served by the Pacific Electric Balboa Line.

Activities

=Marine Park AKA "Mother's Beach"=

This sheltered beach allows for various activities due to the volleyball courts, play area and picnic sites. Known as "Mother's Beach" for its gentle wave action, as well as its shallow swimming area paired with lifeguard supervision during peak periods. Marina Park offers both a great beach for kids and a nearby grassy play area.

=Christmas Boat Parade=

One very popular Christmas-time event in Naples is the "Naples Island Christmas Boat Parade," with groups of decorated boats going through the canals of Naples, around Alamitos Bay, and past Belmont Shore. The parade has been held since 1946.

The "Trees in the Bay" floating Christmas tree tradition dates to 1949.{{cite news |last1=Grobaty |first1=Tim |title=Long Beach's floating Christmas trees started on a whim; now they're a 69-year tradition residents fought to preserve |url=https://lbpost.com/news/parks/christmas-trees-alamitos-lights/ |work=Long Beach Post News |date=22 November 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Donegan |first1=John |title=The Trees in the Bay will be (partly) powered by solar this year |url=https://lbpost.com/news/the-trees-in-the-bay-will-be-partly-powered-by-solar-this-year/ |work=Long Beach Post News |date=29 November 2024}}

=On the Bay Fun =

At various locations near Naples Island, services for kayak rentals, stand-up paddle boarding, and hydro biking are available. Hydro bikes, are similar to paddle boats, yet are elevated in design to allow for better site-seeing. They also come in single occupancy and double occupancy.

= Overlook Park =

Known locally as Naples Plaza. This small bay front park is a tear-drop shaped strip of land stretching from the west end of Corso di Napoli and terminating at the east end of Corso di Oro. It has a few park benches with a view of Seal Beach as well as Los Alamitos Bay.

=La Bella Fontana di Napoli=

In the middle of Naples Island, a small park is located that includes benches, bay views only a block away, and grass centered around an elegant, three-tiered circular fountain. It was originally named "Circle Park Naples" in 1933, and renamed in 1934 to "Bella Flora Park." In 1971, the park was given its current name "La Bella Fontana di Napoli". A well-liked place for a picnic that is a short distance from the Los Alamitos Bay walkways and views.

Education

Naples residents"[http://www.naplesca.org/images/ZoneMap.jpg Zone Map]." Naples."[http://www.lbusd.k12.ca.us/Schools/school_finder.cfm School Finder]." Long Beach Unified School District. are zoned to Long Beach Unified School District schools:

[https://web.archive.org/web/20071210164219/http://www.lbusd.k12.ca.us/naples/index.htm Naples Bayside Academy]
[http://www.lbusd.k12.ca.us/rogers/ Will Rogers Middle School]
Wilson Classical High School

Architecture

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Killingsworth, Brady, Smith and Associates - The Frank House,{{cite web |title=The Frank House |url=http://socalmodern.com/homesdetail.php?pid=230&iid=2423 |website=socalmodern.com}}{{cite news |last1=Kudler |first1=Adrian Glick |title=Case Study House #25 is For Sale on the Long Beach Canals |url=https://la.curbed.com/2015/2/26/9986964/case-study-house-25-frank-house-killingsworth-brady-smith-for-sale |work=Curbed LA |date=26 February 2015 |language=en}} also known as Case Study House #25
Killingsworth, Brady, and Smith - The Opdahl Residence{{cite news |title=Sold: The Opdahl House, Killingsworth, Brady, & Smith (1957) |url=http://www.uniquecaliforniaproperty.com/home/2018/11/7/sold-the-opdahl-residence-killingsworth-brady-amp-smith-1957 |work=Unique California Property}}
Ray Kappe{{cite news |last1=Grobaty |first1=Tim |title=An architectural masterpiece on Rivo Alto Canal lists at $4.5 million |url=https://lbpost.com/news/an-architectural-masterpiece-on-rivo-alto-canal-lists-at-4-5-million |work=Long Beach Post News |date=19 June 2023}}

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Appearances in popular culture

Several episodes of Sea Hunt{{cite web |title="Sea Hunt" Operation Greenback (TV Episode 1959) - Filming & production - IMDb |url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0696765/locations/?ref_=tt_dt_loc}}{{cite web |title="Sea Hunt" Ransom (TV Episode 1959) - Filming & production - IMDb |url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0696774/locations/?ref_=tt_dt_loc}}