PORT TOWNSEND — The new manager of Fort Worden State Park is aware that she is replacing a popular person in Kate Burke.
But Allison Alderman, who is getting the Port Townsend-based job in a shuffle involving seniority inside the Washington State Parks system, said in an interview that she will approach the job with the same type of positive attitude Burke has.
“I understand that Port Townsend knows, loves and trusts Kate and handpicked her to head the park,” Alderman told the Peninsula Daily News.
“The people in Port Townsend don’t know me and might not be happy to see me, but I am going to come in with a positive attitude and show them what I can do.
“We all want the same thing, for the work to continue in turning [Fort Worden] into a Lifelong Learning Center.”
Alderman’s position as regional operations manager in the state Parks’ Northwest Region Office was eliminated as part of an agency-wide cost reduction, so Alderman — who has seniority — will displace current park manager Kate Burke as part of a state personnel practice that favors those with seniority.
Alderman was initially scheduled to replace Burke on Wednesday, but the mid-January stormy weather set things back. The transition will now occur around Feb. 15.
The bad weather and power outages led the park system to postpone the process so that all parties would have time to move, according to spokesperson Virginia Painter.
Burke, whose last day was to be Wednesday, will now work through the transition, Painter said.
Alderman, 46, has worked for Washington State Parks for 21 years, while Burke began her employment with State Parks at Fort Worden in 2002.
During her two decades, Alderman has supervised several park managers at several parks, including Deception Pass, Fort Flagler, Fort Casey, the Green River Gorge Area, Moran and Cama Beach
But she has never managed the detailed daily operations at the park level.
“I won’t be a typical park manager,” she said.
“I suppose that’s a good thing since a number of people in the Port Townsend community have stated that they don’t believe the typical park manager is the best fit for such a unique place as Fort Worden.”
Unlike most other state parks, the 434-acre Fort Worden State Park and Conference Center includes many historic buildings of the Army fort decommissioned in 1952 that have been converted to educational and scientific use.
And unlike most state parks, it even offers accommodations in the 19th century former officers’ quarters.
Alderman said she sees the new position as a chance to expand her skills.
“I look forward to the challenge of heading Fort Worden. It gives me a challenge that will allow me to stretch myself,” she said.
“In the past, I have been more involved in financial management and human resources.
“In Fort Worden, there is more diversity of programs and I’m thrilled about this opportunity to develop relationships with these diverse groups.”
To prepare for her new job, which will pay $78,500 a year (the same as Burke), Alderman plans to search for a home in Port Townsend and continue her research about the area.
Alderman, who is single and has no children, owns a house in Alger (near Burlington) which she plans to rent out while she plans to seek rental property in Port Townsend.
“One of the things I’ve enjoyed over the last three years is the relationships that I’ve been able to foster between park employees and different groups,” she said.
“I haven’t done as much of that as I would have liked and will be able to do that at Fort Worden.”
She plans to spend the extra transition time knowing more about the area and job.
“I know there is a lot going on that I don’t know about,” she said.
“So the more I can read and the more I can prepare myself, the better off we all will be.”
Alderman has not talked to Burke aside from a short conversation when the announcement was made.
“I would love to talk to Kate,” Alderman said.
“But I am giving her a space to go through the process, and I am trying to respect that.
Alderman is waiting on park management to schedule a visit to Port Townsend, during which time she can meet with Burke, user groups and park employees.
In addition to her duties as park manager, Burke has been a board member of the Port Townsend Public Development Authority, or PDA, which since the end of 2009 has sought to develop Fort Worden into a self-sustaining Lifelong Learning Center with diverse educational programs.
Several stakeholders involved in the process argue that if Burke leaves, momentum will be lost.
Last week, the PDA asked 24th District legislators to introduce a bill that would allow it to manage at least part of the park.
That would pave the way for Burke to stay on as director.
The proposal was presented to the three legislators from the 24th District — Sen. Jim Hargrove, a Democrat from Hoquiam, and Rep. Kevin Van De Wege and Rep. Steve Tharinger, both Sequim Democrats — on Jan. 23.
It outlines three possibilities for a change in the management of Fort Worden State Park: an equal partnership between the PDA and the State Parks to run the park, the leasing of buildings by the PDA while the State Parks manages the camping and trail facilities, or the leasing of the entire park by the PDA.
The PDA board favors the second option because it leverages the strengths of both agencies, according to several board members.
Alderman said she isn’t that familiar with the PDA’s activities, although she is aware of the co-management proposals.
She expects to participate in the planning and execution of the Lifelong Learning Center.
“The Lifelong Leaning Center sets a direction for the future,” she said.
“With all the partnerships and ideas generated, it will become more sustainable financially and ecologically and will become a model that all parks can emulate,” she said
Alderman, a Northwest native, is a graduate of the State Parks law enforcement academy and has spent her parks career in management positions.
In that time parks have changed, with the public and the state demand more accountability and transparency from the parks, she said.
“It’s always been a challenge getting funding for parks,” she said.
“They sometimes take a back seat to law enforcement and corrections and are not critical in the same way, but it is very important to preserve these environments so people have places to go in order to reconnect with nature and reconnect with themselves.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
