More than 30 years ago Toms River resident and developer Gary Lotano started decorating the municipal Christmas tree downtown, so it's not surprising he's now donating a temporary park that soon will be built at the corner of Washington and Robbins Streets, where a fire gutted an office building last May.

Vacant lot in downtown Toms River where a May, 2014 fire destroyed an office building/photo by Tom Mongelli, Townsquare Media
Vacant lot in downtown Toms River where a May, 2014 fire destroyed an office building/photo by Tom Mongelli, Townsquare Media
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Vacant land where a May, 2014 fire destroyed an office building in downtown Toms River/photo by Tom Mongelli, Townsquare Media
Vacant land where a May, 2014 fire destroyed an office building in downtown Toms River/photo by Tom Mongelli, Townsquare Media
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"Do you want to look at a fenced in pile of dirt for two years in the center of downtown, our county seat? I don't," said Lotano during an interview with Townsquare Media News at Tuesday night's Township Council Meeting.

The governing body approved an ordinance to lease the vacant property at 217 Washington Street for $One dollar a year from owner 27 Washington Street Associates, LLC, to allow the temporary park to go up until a new building is constructed.

Although Lotano owns buildings downtown that he rents, he said his family enjoys helping the community and is paying for the park as an act of kindness.

Gary Lotano/photo by Tom Mongelli, Townsquare Media
Gary Lotano/photo by Tom Mongelli, Townsquare Media
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"We're going to have some berms, and we're going to have trees, and we're going to have plants, and we're going to have artificial turf because we don't want to cut the grass for the year," Lotano said.

Work on the temporary park is expected to begin next week. It should take about three weeks to complete.

"Me and my family, my kids, we like doing things for the community. We live here and I think we should do that," added Lotano.

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