Alex Ching, on a visit to a New York City dog park where his favorite corgis could be found. Ching, a resident of Holmdel, died in 2018 at age 24. There are plans to create a dog park in the township in his memory.
Photo courtesy Lisa Ching
By Christina Johnson
HOLMDEL – It comes as a surprise to some that this township, famous for its recreation areas, trails and greenways, doesn’t have its own dog park.
The Ching family realized that recently, when brainstorming a way to pay tribute to their son’s memory. Alexander Ching, 24, died on Christmas morning 2018. A highly accomplished person despite battling cancer for 17 years, Ching had a big personality, a joy of life and an unbridled love for dogs, especially corgis.
“We were thinking about what he loved. He loved dogs. Therapy dogs made all the difference to him for his recovery and attitude,” said his mother Lisa Ching, who became a therapy dog volunteer herself when she saw the good it can do.
She recalled how, when Alex was living in New York City, he made her come visit a dog park frequented by corgis and their owners. He couldn’t have a dog because dogs were not permitted in his apartment. But it was so typically Alex, she said, who maximized his short life with fun and enthusiasm, to go anyway to meet the corgis.
“Why doesn’t Holmdel have a dog park? We could do that,” said Lisa, who is championing the idea with husband Mike and children, Maddie and Ethan. A dog park brings people together to socialize, exchange ideas, get to know each other. And naturally, it makes the dogs happy, too. “We want to make the best ‘paw park’ in New Jersey,” said Lisa.
As a teen and during breaks from college at Duke University, Alex volunteered on the Holmdel First Aid Squad. Lisa did too, offering essential administrative help to the squad. That’s where the family came to know Holmdel residents and volunteers Serena DiMaso, now a state assemblywoman, and Mike Nikolis, now a township committeeman.
Lisa reached out with a letter, proposing the idea.
“It just brought tears to my eyes when I read the email,” said DiMaso, who knew Alex well. “I just thought this is so perfect, to remember Alex this way.”
Nikolis said it was the least the township could do, to recognize Alex’s life and Lisa’s contributions to fundraising for the volunteer squad. “It’s long overdue for Holmdel, and this is a wonderful memorial for Alex’s life to live on.
A dog park was even something the township committee could agree on. The five elected members, who have rarely agreed on much this election season, gave their approval for the Chings to move forward with the concept at their last meeting.
The next steps will be raising private funds and gathering feedback. The Chings will go on research missions to visit other dog parks and gather information on how they are designed, what features they include, where shade and entrances are located, how they are secured and maintained. They will be reporting back to the township committee as they formulate the plans.
While several members of the family have careers in the engineering field, Lisa is the artist in the family. She had ideas about creating a space of beauty and vibrancy. “Alex is obviously the inspiration and the motivating force, but we also view it as a community project,” she said.
“We want to figure out a way we can incorporate him, whether it’s a beautiful plaque, or something else.”
Nikolis said the township has narrowed down a potential site for the dog park on township property that is in a convenient location, with water and shade. The governing body will consider the location and how to move forward with the proposed dog park at their next meeting.
The emotional, positive responses by people who hear about the idea have fueled the family’s excitement about doing something meaningful in memory of their son. “Quite honestly, the idea is really catching on,” Lisa said. Alex would be pleased, she knows.
