Ms. Andrea Everly. Talk about someone who holds the community’s best interest at heart. Her years of dedication to the New Cumberland Park Board have helped shape not just our spaces, but our sense of community. Because of her commitment, families have gathered, children have played, and memories have been made. Her impact will be felt for generations. Andrea is a truly public-spirited individual. Whether she’s organizing local events or advocating for neighborhood improvements, her actions are always guided by what will benefit the collective whole. Ms. Everly is deeply civic-minded, frequently dedicating her personal time (and her husband’s) to ensure that our local resources are protected and improved for everyone.
Andrea and her husband John are lifelong residents of New Cumberland. Ms. Everly has been on and off the New Cumberland Park Board since she was 16 – 17 years old. Yes. You read that right. She’s been involved since she was a teenager. How awesome is that? (Which goes to show, you’re never too young to make an impact.) Andrea & John have worked tirelessly with other organizations such as the Disability Coalition, The Brooke Hancock Family Resource Center, New Cumberland City Council, etc. to improve and upgrade New Cumberland’s parks. Ms. Everly states that when making decisions regarding our community, she wants to include ALL individuals, not just the children. For instance, the park board added ‘mother and child’ swings, and special needs swings to the New Cumberland park. Swings for the grown-ups instead of hard benches. They recently added a glide-along for ALL children so that children with special needs can experience the same childhood joys as others. Her goal is for everyone to be able to come and enjoy the city parks as well as the New Cumberland Community House, or C-House, as us old timers like to call it. She loves to see the parks full and people having a good time.
Andrea has also been instrumental in pulling together members of various groups to form a community group. It’s become a forum where the members come together to provide information, support, assistance and ideas. Which in turn makes the activities bigger and better for all. People of all backgrounds and professions coming together to pitch in and help. Groups, individuals, organizations. (It takes a village). On the one hand, you want to offer today’s youth the same kind of activities you had as a kid. On the other hand, you need to be willing to try new things. For instance, this past Halloween, instead of the usual Community House gathering after the Trick or Treat hours, there was a Community event that included businesses, clubs, and organizations. An opportunity for trick or treaters to enjoy the park, walk off some of their candy fueled energy and receive numerous treat bags. It was a great success! In addition to the New Cumberland Lions Club, the event was supported by the Little Blessings School and the Christian Church, Swaney Memorial Library, Hancock Family Resource Center, the New Cumberland Park Board, the New Cumberland VFW, The Arbor, New Cumberland Volunteer Firefighters, Camp Fire Girls, as well as, numerous families and volunteers. Not only the children, but the adults and volunteers had a fantastic time.
Serving on a park board isn’t always glamorous work. It takes time, patience, and genuine love for the people who call this community home. It means showing up, making thoughtful decisions, and always keeping the greater good in mind. And that is exactly what Andrea has done, year after year.
The Community House / C-House building has been around for over 115 years. It has seen good days, and it has seen days of disrepair. Renovations and upgrades have been made, with more upgrades and handicap accessibility improvements coming. Because of Andrea’s commitment, the C-House and New Cumberland parks have become more than just open spaces—they’ve become places where families gather, children laugh and play, friendships grow, and memories are made.
The beauty, accessibility, and care we see in these spaces are a direct reflection of Andrea’s dedication and vision. Her background of working with various therapies, agencies, and special needs care, forms her heart. Her own experiences help her relate to others. She engages with the youth. She sits down with them, face to face, to find out where they’re coming from and meets them on their ‘turf’ so to speak.
What stands out most is not just Andrea’s length of service on the New Cumberland park board, but the heart behind it. She has given so much of her time and energy, often behind the scenes, simply because she cares deeply about this community and the people in it.
It’s easy to walk through a park and enjoy it without thinking about the people who made it possible—but today, we pause to recognize one of those people. Someone who has left a lasting mark not just on the land, but on all of us. Today, let’s recognize and celebrate someone whose dedication has quietly but powerfully shaped our community for many years. Thank you for your dedication to our community. On behalf of this community, thank you, Andrea, for your years of service, your leadership, and your unwavering commitment. Your legacy will continue to be felt for generations to come.
