Naples, Long Beach
Neighborhood in Los Angeles, USA

Neighborhood of Long Beach in Los Angeles, California, United States
Naples, California
Neighborhood of Long Beach
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.
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.
Naples, California is located in Long Beach, California
Naples, California
Naples, California
Location within Long Beach
Coordinates: 33°45′14″N 118°07′20″W / 33.75389°N 118.12222°W / 33.75389; -118.12222
Country United States
State California
County Los Angeles
City Long Beach

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

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,[1] reshaping the existing land and water into the three islands of Naples.[2] Contracts for the construction of concrete bulkheads (seawalls), stairways and dredging were awarded that month to the Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific Company, headquartered in New York. The project called for 13,000 linear feet of concrete bulkhead and 300,000 cubic yards of dredging and earth filling behind the bulkheads, which elevated the new islands to a uniform height.[3]

The design was by the firm Mayberry & Parker,[4] who also contributed to the Hotel Wentworth in Pasadena.[5] 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."[6] The project was completed in the 1920s.

The Naples seawall was rebuilt in 1938[7] following the 1933 Long Beach earthquake.[8] Work to replace this aging seawall began in 2015.[9] The work has halted over funding disputes.[10]

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

  • Aerial view of Naples with Long Beach in the background,  1925
    Aerial view of Naples with Long Beach in the background, c. 1925
  • Postcard, 1932
    Postcard, 1932
  • Naples, Treasure Island and the Peninsula in 1936
    Naples, Treasure Island and the Peninsula in 1936
  • Gondala ride in Alamitos Bay, date unknown
    Gondala ride in Alamitos Bay, date unknown

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.[11][12]

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 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 Alamitos Bay walkways and views.

Education

Naples residents[13][14] are zoned to Long Beach Unified School District schools:

Architecture

See also

References

  1. ^ "Naples, The Only City of Red Tile Roofs". Press-Telegram. Vol. 3, no. 237. August 5, 1905. p. 3.
  2. ^ Masters, Nathan (August 9, 2017). "From Marshland to Italian Village: The Creation of Naples, Long Beach". KCET.
  3. ^ "Big Contract Let: For the Completion of Vast Improvements at Naples". Press-Telegram. Vol. 3, no. 239. August 8, 1905. p. 4.
  4. ^ Gebhard, David; Robert Winter. An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles. p. 110. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  5. ^ "PCAD - Mayberry and Parker, Architect and Engineer". pcad.lib.washington.edu.
  6. ^ Guinn, James Miller (1915). A history of California and an extended history of Los Angeles and environs. Historic Record. p. 459. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  7. ^ Segura, Joe (January 9, 2014). "Naples Island residents to consider design of restored seawall". Press Telegram.
  8. ^ Pitt, Leonard; Dale Pitt. Los Angeles A to Z. p. 351. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  9. ^ "Crumbling seawall surrounding Naples Island gets $9M repair job". ABC7 Los Angeles. February 7, 2015.
  10. ^ Donegan, John (December 3, 2024). "Naples seawall needs replacing. Long Beach is looking for $125 million to do so". Long Beach Post News.
  11. ^ Grobaty, Tim (November 22, 2018). "Long Beach's floating Christmas trees started on a whim; now they're a 69-year tradition residents fought to preserve". Long Beach Post News.
  12. ^ Donegan, John (November 29, 2024). "The Trees in the Bay will be (partly) powered by solar this year". Long Beach Post News.
  13. ^ "Zone Map." Naples.
  14. ^ "School Finder." Long Beach Unified School District.
  15. ^ "The Frank House". socalmodern.com.
  16. ^ Kudler, Adrian Glick (February 26, 2015). "Case Study House #25 is For Sale on the Long Beach Canals". Curbed LA.
  17. ^ "Sold: The Opdahl House, Killingsworth, Brady, & Smith (1957)". Unique California Property.
  18. ^ Grobaty, Tim (June 19, 2023). "An architectural masterpiece on Rivo Alto Canal lists at $4.5 million". Long Beach Post News.
  19. ^ ""Sea Hunt" Operation Greenback (TV Episode 1959) - Filming & production - IMDb".
  20. ^ ""Sea Hunt" Ransom (TV Episode 1959) - Filming & production - IMDb".
  • Naples Improvement Association
  • Naples Island Business Association
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