Sharon Kutilek Buse’s impact on the Oakhurst neighborhood and its central asset — Oakhurst Park — began in 1979 with her planting a live oak tree at a median she calls the “Bluebonnet Common Area.”
She planted the sapling to celebrate the birth of her first son, Josef. By 1985, two more oaks were added to the triangular green space when Buse’s second son, Mikael, was born.
As a steward of the environment, Buse saw no better way to honor her sons than through bringing new life to the lot.
“I grew up in rural Texas, so trees have just always had a soft spot in my heart,” Buse said. “I think it’s extremely important that we protect our environment.”
Over the years, Buse noticed the park, along with the weed-ridden common area, needed some TLC. The greenery and shrubs that had long thrived at Oakhurst Park were dying, Buse said.
Buse and her then husband took it upon themselves to create landscaping plans for the neighborhood’s green space common areas, plant trees, haul water and donate material for their upkeep before installing an irrigation system.
Sharon Kutilek Buse pictured in 1979 with her first son at the Bluebonnet Common Area in the Oakhurst neighborhood. (Courtesy | Sharon Kutilek Buse)
This led to them adopting the Bluebonnet Common Area years later — her sons’ trees still stand there.
Her love and care for the neighborhood’s green spaces also extended to Oakhurst Park, which she adopted in 2015.
Buse’s work across the neighborhood and her dedication to local green spaces earned her recognition in the Fort Worth Report’s weekly series, 52 Faces of Community, highlighting Tarrant County’s unsung heroes.
“I just love my neighborhood,” Buse said. “I can’t sit around and watch things deteriorate. I always think I can fix it or make it better.”
“Sharon is one of those major pillars of the community and brings everyone together.”
Lauren Smith, Oakhurst resident and former Friends of Oakhurst Park board member
Following the adoption, Buse helped replace the park’s grass, launched a reforestation project, provided trees to Oakhurst residents and replaced the playground’s equipment. On some of those initiatives, Buse received help from Fort Worth’s park and recreation department and the Texas A&M Forest Service.
“When you have something as special as Oakhurst (Park) you should protect it,” Buse said.
Buse described the park’s improvements since she moved here in 1973 as significant.
“You can definitely see the change in the park,” Buse said. “It was in pretty bad shape.”
Nowadays, the park bustles with people of all ages using the area for several purposes: exercising, walking, playing. Its trees are healthy — and the park is in the best shape it has seen for a long time, Buse said.
“It’s beautiful. It’s mowed and edged. It’s just pristine,” Buse said. “It’s a wonderful place to go, whereas a lot of neighborhood parks are not.”
The Bluebonnet Common Area has also gained more traffic as it is now equipped with a bench and a drinking station for residents and pets to use, Buse said.
Oakhurst Park features flower beds, a playground and is undergoing a reforestation project. (Courtesy | Sharon Kutilek Buse)
Buse went on to head more projects after she launched the Friends of Oakhurst Park in late 2015.
Lauren Smith, an Oakhurst resident and former Friends of Oakhurst Park board member, spent about three years working with Buse in the organization. She recalls how the group raised thousands of dollars to be poured into the park.
“For a very small neighborhood park, it’s a big deal,” Smith said.
Since being founded, the group and Buse spearheaded several projects, including installing safety signage, preserving playground equipment and adding ADA-compliant sidewalks and amenities.
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Smith recalled when Buse and the group helped raise money to replace Oakhurst Park’s playground equipment beginning in 2021. Buse was instrumental in getting city staffers on board while ensuring the park was not overdeveloped, Smith said.
“She’s always thinking about different ways to get in-the-neighborhood and out-of-the-neighborhood support for the park,” Smith said.
More recently, Friends of Oakhurst Park launched an eastern bluebird nesting box project. Earlier this month, the group partnered with the Texas Bluebird Society and the Fort Worth Audubon Society to install bird boxes at the park. The eastern bluebird is the city’s official bird.
Buse hopes that the project will inspire other neighborhoods to look into nesting efforts and, ultimately, help rebuild the eastern bluebird population. Friends of Oakhurst Park plans to educate other parts of Fort Worth about the colorful birds.
“We’re going to do our best to do our part,” Buse said.
Smith commends Buse for the bluebird project and her other work because it helps children and people of all ages become more engaged with their surroundings.
“That’s a pretty great example of Sharon’s coalition building,” Smith said. “It’s not just people at the city or people that are able to give money to (Friends of Oakhurst Park). She gets kids involved as well.”
Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at nicole.lopez@fortworthreport.org.
The Report’s environment coverage is supported by the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation.
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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