Appleton couple creates legacy with crabapple trees

APPLETON, WI – ( WISS & WGBW) – The city parks in Appleton are adorned with beautiful crabapple trees thanks to the efforts of an Appleton couple.

“When you retire and start getting old, you’re like ‘How am I going to be remembered?’ And I wanted to make the world better,” said Babs Smith of Appleton. “So, we chose to start planting apple blossom, crabapple trees. We started with three trees, five trees a year in different city parks.”

Now, Smith says she and her husband plant 50 trees or more every year in the Appleton community. Each tree costs around $70.

This year they will be planting trees alongside the City’s Parks and Rec department at the Sheels Youth Sport Center on May 9th, starting at 10 am. 

“We donate the trees to the city. We help them plant. Then, they own the trees; they maintain them. So, it works out really well,” said Smith.

People who would like to donate a tree to the City of Appleton can do so by phoning Smith at (920) 733-8012 or contacting the Appleton Parks and Recreation Department.