City of Naples

Parks and Recreation Newsletter

August 2018

8/2 - 8/3 - The Gulfshore Playhouse presents The Secret Garden at the Norris Center 8/4 - Back to School Bash at Anthony Park from 10:30 - 1:30 pm 8/9 - Evenings on 5th Avenue from 7 - 10 pm 8/10 - Summer Camp Ends 8/11 - Wine Around the Water at Venetian Village from 5 - 7 pm 8/11—8/12 - USTA Naples Drop Shot Junior Classic Tournament at the Arthur Allen Tennis Center 8/16 - Third Thursday on Third featuring Live Music with Doug Dover from 6 - 9 pm 8/18 - SummerJazz on the Gulf Concert Series at Naples Beach Hotel with TBone Hamilton’s Big Easy Revue from 6:30 - 9:30 pm 9/3 - All Community Centers will be closed for Labor Day and John Clay 5k Race at Lowdermilk Park Be on the lookout for the fall brochure at any of the City of Naples Community Centers

Key Dates

This month we interviewed Dr. Jim Gover, one of the co-founders of the Naples Jazzmasters Dixieland Band which plays every Saturday in the summer at the Norris Center. He created this band in 2005. Jim enjoys jazz music because “Jazz is an Ameri-can invention, and there is no sadder music than our blues, and no happier music than our Dixieland songs”. They play toe-tapping tunes of the “Roaring Twenties”. Additionally, they have a 200 song library that consists of blues, ragtime, red-hot jazz and sing-a-longs. The concerts are free, but they take donations, so they can cover the concert expenses. In the winter, the band plays outside at Cambier Park bandshell. Come and see them every Saturday through September 22nd from 1-3 pm.

Spotlight

Welcome to the City of Naples Parks and Recreation Newsletter. Back by popular demand! Each month will include events in the City of Naples, essential dates, history, pictures and a spotlight interview with someone who is affiliated with our programs. If you have any questions or suggestions let us know.

Sincerely,

The Norris Center Staff

Introduction

We are hosting a variety of youth summer camps such as art, science, and theater. The Gulfshore Playhouse Teen Conservatory is rehearsing The Secret Garden for their performances in August.

The Naples JazzMasters perform free Dixieland concerts from 1-3 pm every Saturday through September 22nd.

You can borrow bocce balls, shuffleboard equipment and basketballs at the front desk. The game room is open to play table tennis and pool. Call (239) 213-3058 for more information.

Volunteer opportunities available at all City of Naples locations. Call the Norris

Fleischmann Park has open pickleball courts and a skate park. Also, there is a center that has a variety of activities and events.

Pickleball is open everyday from 8:30-11:30 am and Mondays 4-6 pm. It cost $2 a day or $25 for the year.

The rooms inside the center and the skate park at Fleischmann are available to rent for meetings and events. Call (239) 213-3020.

Fleischmann Park

The Naples Pier reopens this month after being closed from Hurricane Irma. Hurricane Irma is not the first time that the pier has been severely damaged since it was originally built in 1888. The pier was built by Walter N. Halderman so people would be able to discover this hidden gem along the Gulf of Mexico. The first hurricane was in 1910 which almost destroyed the pier and took a year to rebuilt. The post office was added to the pier. Then in 1922, someone dropped a cigarette on the pier that started a fire and burnt down the post office. They had to rebuild a part of the pier’s boardwalk and made the pier longer. After that, in the 1926 hurricane salt water went into the wells and tanks. Another hurricane demolished Naples Pier in 1944. The pier was rebuilt again and was 100 feet longer. In 1960, Hurricane Donna collapsed the pier. The Norris’ donated money to repair the Pier once again and reopened 10 months later.

Naples Pier Rebuilding History

River Park has an auditorium and meeting rooms that can be reserved for events, parties and meetings.

The fitness center has a variety of cardio machines and weights. Hours are Monday - Friday from 9-4:30 pm and Saturdays 9-4 pm.

Computer lab is open Monday thru Saturday.

Call (239) 213-3037 for rentals and memberships.

River Park

The Arthur L. Allen Tennis Center is located in Cambier Park. They have twelve clay courts.

Memberships are available. There are resident and non-resident fees. Call (239) 213 - 3060 for membership and court reservations.

Hours: Monday-Friday from 8 - 7:30 pm Saturday and Sunday from 8 - 12 pm

Tennis Center Norris Center

The Naples Preserve is the highest populated are of go-pher tortoises in Naples.

August and September are the peak months for observing butterflies.

Naples Preserve