Charlie C. Anthony Park
City of Naples named the Charlie C. Anthony Park in honor of Private Charlie C. Anthony who lost his life in combat on May 12, 1969 while assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment of the 11th Light Infantry Brigade in the Vietnam War. Private Anthony was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart posthumously.
Charlie lived with his parents and siblings at their 5th Ave. North residence in the River Park East neighborhood. He attended the former George Washington Carver High School where he was a star basketball player and track runner. During the summer of 1968, Charlie C. Anthony was drafted into the United States Army. In December 1968, knowing he soon would be sent to fight in the Vietnam War, Charlie C. Anthony married his childhood sweetheart, Laura Smith. They had one daughter, Cassandra.
On March 7, 1969, PFC Charlie C. Anthony was assigned to serve with the 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment of the 11th Infantry Brigade in the Vietnam War; and, at the age of 23, made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States of America when he was killed in action on May 12, 1969 near Xuan Thanh, a small village in South Vietnam. PFC Anthony's official Army citation reads,
“Private Anthony, with complete disregard for his personal safety, attacked, and killed the insurgents. When he and the remainder of the squad tried to prevent some enemy soldiers from skirting the flank of his unit, a firefight ensued that caused Anthony to be fatally wounded.”
The Charlie C. Anthony Park is 7.92 acres of pristine landscape on the Gordon River. You will find the following facilities available for public use:
Park Hours:
7:00 am - 10:00 pm
Community Center Hours:
***FACILITY IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED***
Facilities:
- annex center with small meeting room
- activity space
- restrooms
- fishing pier
- lighted walking trail
- lighted tennis courts
- lighted basketball court
- playground
- several picnic shelters
- lots of open green space
- Multi-purpose Field
Reserve Charlie C. Anthony Park
Would you like to host an event or birthday party at the Charlie C. Anthony Park? Please fill out the reservation form on our Forms Page and contact our office for further information.
Charlie C. Anthony Park
1500 5th Avenue North
Naples, FL 34102
Phone: 239-213-3037
email: riverpark@naplesgov.com
Park Manager
Mercy Puente
