See "More News and Events" for 2008 ONA upcoming events!

Oakhurst featured in March 2008 Fort Worth, Texas Magazine

"Oakhurst:  Rooted in  History" is the title of "Fort Worth, Texas" Magazine's feature article on our neighborhood.  Check it out in the March 2008 issue!

 Oakhurst Wins National Award!

        On Friday, May 25, 2007 the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association won 1st place in the Multi-Neighborhood Project Partnerships Category of the National Neighborhood Awards competition sponsored by Neighborhoods USA (NUSA).  The award was presented at the National Neighborhoods Conference held at the River Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at a luncheon attended by approximately 750 attendees. 

Libby Willis, ONA President, and Dwight Mason, Citizens on Patrol Captain,  represented ONA.  A panel of judges selected 4 finalists to compete in the multi-neighborhood projects partnerships category.  Finalists, besides Oakhurst, included the Bluff Heights Neighborhood Association of Long Beach California; the Lake orth Alliance of Fort Worth; and the Island Village Corporation of Detroit, Michigan. 

Finalists were invited to make presentations and judging was based on the extent of innovation, grassroots participation and capacity building exhibited by the nominated organization. Oakhurst’s project, the 19th Annual Code Blue Police and Firefighters Dinner held in October 2006, was judged the best multi-neighborhood project partnership for this year.  Congratulations, Oakhurst Code Blue, ONA & & all Oakhurst residents!

 Oakhurst Named Fort Worth's Neighborhood of the Year for 2006!

         On Saturday, February 3, the Fort Worth League of Neighborhood Associations and the City of Fort Worth named Oakhurst "Neighborhood of the Year" for 2006.   This award is the highest honor for neighborhoods and neighborhood associations in the city of Fort Worth.  The Oakhurst Neighborhood Association received a $200 check, a plaque, and street sign toppers announcing the award.  As neighborhood of the year in Fort Worth, Oakhurst will automatically be entered as a National Neighborhood of the Year candidate in the national "Neighborhoods USA" (NUSA) competition. 

         ONA President Libby Willis accepted the award on behalf of the neighborhood association from Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief.  Several Fort Worth city council members (including District 2 Councilman Sal Espino who represents Oakhurst) were also present along with the crowd of approximately 200 neighborhood activists from around the city.  Present and former Oakhurst residents helping to accept the award included Glenda Hartsell Shelton, Ginger Bason, Judy Grunewald, John James, Billie Vaughn, Dwight Mason, Doris and Bill Gray and Doyle Willis, Jr. 

          This is a milestone event in the 25 year life of the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association and the 83 year life of the Oakhurst Neighborhood.  Congratulations to all who have worked to support the association and the neighborhood since ONA's founding 25 years ago!!  

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES?

The National Register of Historic Places is the nation's inventory of properties deemed worthy of preservation. It is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate and protect our historic and archeological resources. The National Park Service (NPS) maintains the National Register, which is administered in Texas by the Texas Historical Commission (THC), the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and is part of its effort to promote preservation statewide.The National Register was developed to recognize historic places and persons who contributed to our country's heritage. These properties — whether districts, sites, buildings, structures or objects — are architecturally, archeologically or historically significant for their associations with important persons or events.The National Register is designed to include properties of importance in every locality, not just great national landmarks. A general store, a community park, a main street or the remains of a prehistoric Indian village may be just as eligible for inclusion in the National Register as the Governor’s Mansion or the Alamo.The National Register of Historic Places provides the basis for most preservation activities under federal programs and those of the SHPO. It is important to note what listing a property on the National Register means or, perhaps more importantly, what it does not mean.

LISTING A PROPERTY ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER:

·    Provides prestigious recognition to significant properties.·    Encourages the preservation of historic properties.·    Provides information about historic properties for local and statewide planning purposes.·    Helps promote tourism and economic development.·    Provides basic eligibility for financial incentives, when available.

THE NATIONAL REGISTER DOES NOT:

·    Restrict in any way a private property owner’s ability to alter, manage or dispose of a property.·    Require that properties be maintained, repaired or restored.·    Allow the individual listing of private property over an owner’s objection.·    Allow the listing of historic districts over a majority of property owners’ objection.·    Require public access to private property.

NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA

National Register criteria are designed to guide the officials of the National Register, SHPOs, federal agencies, local governments, preservation organizations and members of the general public in evaluating properties for entry in the National Register. To be listed in the National Register, properties generally must be at least 50 years old and retain their historic character. Properties must:·    Be associated with important events that have contributed significantly to the broad pattern of our history.·    Be associated with the lives of persons significant in our past.·    Embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction; or represent the work of a master; or possess high artistic values; or represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction.·    Have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.Besides meeting one or more of these National Register criteria, a property must also have integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. This means that if a property has been dramatically altered or its setting has been lost, it is probably not eligible for the Register.

CRITERIA CONSIDERATIONS

Ordinarily, cemeteries, birthplaces or graves of historical figures, properties owned by religious institutions or used for religious purposes, structures that have been moved from their original locations, reconstructed historic buildings, properties primarily commemorative in nature and properties that have achieved significance within the last 50 years shall not be considered eligible for the National Register. However, properties will qualify if they are integral parts of districts that do meet the criteria, or if they fall within one or more of the following categories: ·    A religious property deriving primary significance from architectural or artistic distinction or historical importance.·    A building or structure removed from its original location but which is significant for architectural value, or which is the surviving structure most importantly associated with an historic person or event.·    A birthplace or grave of an historical figure of outstanding importance if there is no other appropriate site or building directly associated with his or her productive life.·    A cemetery that derives its primary significance from graves of persons of transcendent importance, from age, from distinctive design features or from association with historic events.·    A reconstructed building when accurately executed in a suitable environment and presented in a dignified manner as part of a restoration master plan, and when no other building or structure with the same association has survived.·    A property primarily commemorative in intent if design, age, tradition or symbolic value has invested it with its own historical significance.·    A property achieving significance within the past 50 years if it is of exceptional importance.