AFTER four years at the helm of one of the most prized assets of a south Cumbrian town the chief executive of a community park is to step down.

Tomorrow (Friday 21) will mark the final day of the tenure of the chairman of Ford Park Community Group, Ali Alger.
Stepping in during a troubled period in the park's history, Mrs Alger, with the help of a dedicated team of volunteers, staff and trustees has since heralded a new era of prosperity for the park.

When Mrs Alger joined Ford Park had debts running to hundreds of thousands of pounds when Mrs Alger joined, and the lack of a clear strategy for the future threatened to stifle any progress.

Reflecting on her time as head of the park, Mrs Alger said: "It's been four years of really exciting, dramatic times. I've loved being part of the community, it's been a privilege being here.

"I've had the support of my family and now I get to reinvest some time in them. It's not a normal job, seven days a week, evenings. I also want to start my own business, taking some of the skills I've learnt and work with the people of Ulverston. It's time for a new chapter."

Coming in to the park four years ago was a daunting task. Almost 20 years ago a mortgage was taken out to purchase the park from the district council. During that time the spectre of debt was constantly looming over the heads of those working at the park.

Mrs Alger was one of the driving forces to clear that debt once and for all. A portion of land at the bottom of the park, near Ford Park Crescent was sold to a developer for a small housing estate.

The money generated from this land sale meant the remaining £750,000 of debt was finally cleared from the community group's books.

With this fresh start the park has gone from strength to strength, with more investment in improving the park.

The park now serves as a wedding venue, as well as offering meeting and function spaces. A herb garden was planted offering the chance for local schoolchildren to learn more about gardening and the environment. A new plant nursery was also opened to create a new source of revenue to ensure the park was able to stay open long term.

Marilyn Hales, who has a served as a trustee of Ford Park for two years praised Mrs Alger, saying everyone from the volunteers to the trustees will miss her.

She said: "It's going to be a big gap and a very very hard job for somebody to step into, following her lead. She has been an exceptional CEO, the head of so many new projects, she's seen the park recover and has been an inspirational leader."

Mrs Hales said the task of finding a new chief executive would not be easy.

She said: "We need somebody who is going to work to Ali's standards and maintain what Ali has done. We don't want anything she's done to slip away.

"She will be greatly missed by all the volunteers, all of them will miss her as well as the trustees."

David Heffernan, chairman of the Ford Park trustees, said: "I have been a trustee for a year-and-a-half and have found Ali to be excellent to work with. She will be a big loss to the park, I'll miss working with her."

Mrs Alger will channel her energies into something she has long been passionate about.

Mrs Alger said: "Before I came into the post I trained as a civil celebrant. I've been lucky enough to be involved in a handful of blessings, memorials and weddings that have taken place at Ford Park. Most recently I had the privilege of working with the new mayor of Ulverston for a civic Sunday service. I love working with people and I really like being part of people's transitions in their lives."

Although the move away from the park will be a difficult one, Mrs Alger is confident the park will endure.

She said: "The overriding emotion is that it has been a fantastic four years, there will never be another job like this. A wonderful place to work, with a great team in such a supportive community. Ulverston is a really outward facing, creative and lively town.

"Having said that, it's been a fight and a challenge. It's come close to the edge but with the support of the team and community, we're at a place now where we can look to the future."

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