A stunning magnolia tree towers 21 feet over Cisterna Park in downtown Fort Smith with white blossoms peeking out brightly.
Ryan Rains looks forward to winter when the tree will shine even brighter.
“It’s going to serve as a Christmas tree,” he said. “We’re going to light it every year.”
Rains, the board president of Keep Fort Smith Beautiful, directed a project to bring a magnolia tree to downtown Fort Smith. Keep Fort Smith Beautiful funded the planting, aligning with the organization’s goal to preserve nature for the River Valley community.
With the help of the Fort Smith Parks & Recreation department, the tree was planted Monday as onlookers gathered downtown.