Enumerating $k$-Naples Parking Functions Through Catalan Objects

Abstract

This paper studies a generalization of parking functions named $k$-Naples parking functions, where backward movement is allowed. One consequence of backward movement is that the number of ascending $k$-Naples is not the same as the number of descending $k$-Naples. This paper focuses on generalizing the bijections of ascending parking functions with combinatorial objects enumerated by the Catalan numbers in the setting of both ascending and descending $k$-Naples parking functions. These combinatorial objects include Dyck paths, binary trees, triangulations of polygons, and non-crossing partitions. Using these bijections, we enumerate both ascending and descending $k$-Naples parking functions.