By Allison Perrine
MONMOUTH COUNTY – It wasn’t a year full of in-person fundraisers or events, but 2020 was certainly a year to cherish loved ones, reflect on the positives and appreciate the good things in life before they’re gone.
That could be why there were over two dozen applications to purchase memorial and honorary benches throughout county parks this year, reported Maria Wojciechowski, executive director of Friends of the Parks, at the Monmouth County Park System’s Dec. 14 meeting. And each application has a moving story behind it.
“People have been more appreciative of the parks than ever, ever before. I mean, they have been out in droves,” said Wojciechowski. “Because people were out in the parks… they noticed things that they never pay attention to before – and benches specifically.”
According to Wojciechowski, the memorial bench process is time consuming and typically takes about 16 weeks to complete. It begins when potential donors reach out with an idea of whom to honor and where. Then, working with a third-party company, the designs, locations and specific details for the pieces are confirmed. Each bench costs $3,500 and includes one or two cast-iron bronze plaques. In the end, they’re “really worth it,” she said.
“Benches provide a physical and emotional connection for the donor to a loved one’s special place and they permanently attach us to the donors,” said Wojciechowski. “It’s something that’s so, so nice to be able to do.”
“I think that people want to look for meaningful ways to remember their loved ones rather than cemeteries,” she added.
So far in 2020, 26 bench requests have come in and 12 have been completed as of Dec. 14, which translates to $35,560 in revenue, according to Wojciechowski. And each bench is meaningful and special. One recent example, she said, came from the Ching family of Holmdel, when the grandfather of Alex Ching – a 24-year-old who died of cancer Christmas morning in 2018 – found the perfect way to honor his late grandson.
Ching told Wojciechowski he was struggling to find a way to honor Alex until one morning when he walked around the pond at Holmdel Park. He found a dedicated bench and knew that was what we wanted for Alex, whom he had taught to fish at that same pond years before. It’s also the park where Alex ran cross country for Holmdel High School.
When Alex was 10 years old, he wrote a haiku-like poem for his grandfather for Father’s Day. Thanks to Wojciechowski and her team, that haiku is now on the plaque on Alex’s memorial bench overlooking the pond. It reads: “My grandfather likes to fish. He can sit there for many hours, And I, only few minutes.”
“Every one of the stories is beautiful; every one of the stories is heart-wrenching and it’s something that’s really important to every one of the donors,” said Wojciechowski. “If there’s something positive we can get out of 2020, I think it’s this kind of thing and that people are really appreciating the beauty of our park.”
The Friends’ oldest memorial benches are about 15 years old. They will need replacement in the near future. Of the benches that have already been placed this year, four went to Deep Cut Gardens, three to the Manasquan Reservoir, two to Holmdel Park, one to Dorbrook Park, one to Sunnyside Gardens Park and one to Thompson Park. Some of the most popular types have been made with teak and recycled materials. The accompanying cast-bronze plaques can include up to 100 characters.
Overall, while there were some successes this year, Wojciechowski noted that the 2020 revenue stream was significantly less than 2019. Friends of the Parks raised over $60,000 in 2019 through events and membership drives, but a little over $35,000 total in 2020. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group was not able to host any of the events it normally would, aside from a virtual Super 50-50 raffle that would otherwise have been held at the Monmouth County Fair. Still, she thanked supporters who stepped up even during a hard year.
“Under great adversity, the park system has performed admirably, starting with the early shutdowns and then the realization that Parks was and is an essential service – essential for our physical and mental wellbeing,” said Freeholder Lillian Burry. She noted that in 2020, the golf courses had “never been busier” and ended the year with over 275,000 total rounds. Park trails were in “constant use” and the camps served 2,860 campers this summer. Campgrounds were “filled to capacity” nearly every weekend.
Wojciechowski said she’s hoping that by spring, and with the COVID-19 vaccine coming, things will be better for all in 2021.
“The Friends of the Parks understand that 2020 has been a unique year and recognize the challenges it has brought to all of us as a community. We hope that during this time, you have been able to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of our Monmouth County parks as a way to destress and exercise. We look forward to the time when we can resume normal activities and events in person – our Annual Membership Meeting, the Golf Outing, the Monmouth County Fair, Strut Your Mutt and our wine tasting,” the Friends’ Fall 2020 newsletter states.
The article originally appeared in the December 17 – 23, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
