HISTORY OF AQUALANE SHORES

AQUALANE SHORES

Aqualane Shores Association was incorporated on February 3, 1966, as a non-profit corporation to provide fellowship and unity of purpose for a unique, mature, and settled segment of Naples.

At its inception the Association’s area of interest and responsibility ran eastward from Gordon Drive to the Bay of Naplesand southward from 14^th Avenue South to 21^st Avenue South, Marina Drive, Forrest Lane and Southwinds Drive.  In 1996 the City of Naples was required by state law to present an updated, comprehensive plan for the City, which evolved into the City’s VISION 2005.  Numerous meetings with city residents indicated a need to realign individual neighborhoods within the city.  Aqualane Shores is now known as THE AQUALANE SHORES NEIGHBORHOOD.  The area of interest and responsibility now runs eastward from the Gulf of Mexico to Naples Bay and southward from 14^th Avenue South to Jamaica Channel.

Since its beginning, the Association’s purpose has remained much the same.  The officers and Board of Directors participate in many community projects and activities to protect and improve the environment, beauty, and way of life that distinguishes the Aqualane Shores area from all others.

The Association plays an active role in many community programs through the Presidents Council of Greater Naples Property Owners Associations and the City of Naples President’s Council—two groups composed of the presidents of county and city property owner associations, respectively.  The Association cooperates with the City Police Department, Naples Civic Association and County Sheriff in the Neighborhood Watch Program.  It monitors political activities of the City Council and County Commission and continues its efforts on behalf of cleanliness and safety of our waterways and in the support and enforcement of local ordinances.

An Annual meeting in January, Holiday party, Spring party and two beach parties (new!) are held each year to promote fellowship among the entire Aqualane Shores Neighborhood.

THE WATERWAYS OF AQUALANE SHORES

Shortly after its incorporation, the Aqualane Shores Association Board noticed only one waterway had a name—Aqua Cove.  The developers of Aqualane Shores had included the name in the initial platting of the development, making it a matter of record at the County Seat.  The Board voted to identify all other Aqualane Shores waterways.  Names of local water birds were used.

Then, as now, the main waterways ran west to east, draining into Naples Bay.  Running north and south, Sandpiper and Spoonbill Cove (bound by 3^rd & 4^th Sts. S.) drain into

Anhinga Channel         whose borders are 14^th & 15^th Aves. S.

Bittern Channel           bound  by 15^th & 16^th Aves. S.

Crane Channel            whose water flows between 16^th & 17^th Aves. S.

Duck Channel              has its banks 17^th & 18^th Aves. S.

Egret Channel, whose southern boundary is 21^st Ave. S., receives the water drained from Flamingo, Gull, Heron, Ibis, and Aqua Coves.  The waters from Kit, Limpkin, and Jamaica Coves empty into Jamaica Channel.  (See map in this directory indicating the channels.)

HISTORY OF AQUALANE SHORES

By Richard Morris

The land that is now Aqualane Shores was a mangrove swamp before 1950.  Philip Rust had bought the land from Mrs. Crayton and was doing some developing along Jamaica Channel.  Outboard Marine Corp. had an executive retreat onNaples Bay off Marina Drive, and the access was by a road that is now 21^st Ave. S.  There was a drainage ditch where the 14^th – 15^th  Ave. canal is today.  This ditch went all the way to Gordon Drive and drained at least one of the lakes between it and the Gulf.

Forrest Walker & Sons was a local company that did dredging and land clearing work.  They had dug a lake north of 16^thAve. S., between Gordon Drive and Gulf Shore Blvd., in order to get fill to repair damage done by the Hurricane of 1945. In 1949, Forrest Walker asked Mr. Rust to sell him the 296 acres from Jamaica Channel to what is now 14^th Ave. S.  Mr. Ed Watson was the Realtor.  It was agreed that land would be transferred in 5 purchases.  Naples was very small, 5000 people or less, and financing for such a development was difficult to obtain.  The first phase money was finally obtained from The Bank of Everglades.  Realtor Watson loaned the money he got for his commission back to the Walkers in return for the exclusive sales rights.

In January of 1950, the Walkers started making the 14^th-15^th Ave. S. ditch wider and deeper with their dredge.  The first plan was to have canals going north and south.  They realized that the 14^th-15^th Ave. S. canal was the main drainage for the low land and lakes between Gordon Drive and the beach.  The plan was changed to make the first canals go east and west.  Lorenzo Walker ran the 8” hydraulic dredge, Forrest ran the bulldozer and R. L. Walker ran the dragline.  The dragline was used to clear the mangroves which were then piled up and burned.

By March of 1950, the Walkers had dug one canal and had put in 14^th Ave. S. and 3^rd S. S.  They opened a small sales office at the corner of 3^rd St. S. and 15^th Ave. S.  At an “opening party” for their development, the big event was a contest to name the area.  Mr. Joe Wherift won a $250 bond for suggesting the name “Aqualane Shores.”

The Walkers needed money to buy fuel for the dredge and other equipment.  They had a lucky break before the lots ever went on sale.  Mr. Madden saw the work going on and bought 500 ft. of land on 14^th Ave. S. for his son, who was on duty in Alaska.  The price of those pre-development lots was $2,500.  When the lots went on sale, the Walkers had a sales policy of $100 down and $50 a month until the lot was paid off.  Lots on narrow canals sold for $4,000, and lots on NaplesBay were $7,000.  As dredging and filling progressed to the end of what is now 17^th Ave. S. rock was found very close to the surface.  The Walkers couldn’t get a permit to blast, so the land was extended into the bay in order that the lots have navigable water.  This part of Aqualane is the closest to the Inland Waterway Channel and also has the largest lots.  As time went on, cousins of the Walker family were brought in to run the equipment.  Lorenzo Walker ran the sales office, and Forrest looked for future projects.