Longport woman leaves Jersey Shore town $5 million gift to build a park

Longport Mayor Nicholas Russo told News 12 that he's been in office for 16 years and has never seen anything like this.

Lanette Espy

Jan 9, 2024, 2:02 PM

Updated 335 days ago

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One Jersey Shore borough received a huge surprise after a woman gifted $5 million lots in her will in hopes that they would build a park.
Longport Mayor Nicholas Russo told News 12 New Jersey that he's been in office for 16 years and has never seen anything like this. He says he was notified of the gift by Dorothy McGee's attorney after she passed away in November 2023.
The lots gifted by McGee are on beach blocks. McGee was specific about some things in the will, like the land would forever remain a park and that it stays nicely landscaped with a 3-foot fence, gazebo and sign dedicated to the McGee family. She also wants the park to be open to the public.
If built, the park would be on 22nd Avenue between the bay and the sea.