The city of Fulton Parks and Recreation Department started a new Christmas tradition this year - a wish tree.
Fulton High School freshman Tucker Caswell wrote down his Christmas wish on a small piece of card stock and placed it inside the wooden wish box in Veterans Park Wednesday night. Caswell's wish: for his school's wrestling team to win at state championships this year.
The wish tree is a lighted tree in Veterans Park near the amphitheater. Next to the tree is a "wish box." The box has little post cards and pencils in it, on which anyone can write a wish to place in the box. Parks and Recreation held a tree lighting ceremony Wednesday night to introduce their newest holiday tradition.
Sharlene McArtor, with Parks and Recreation, said they thought the wish box and tree would be a fun thing for community members to do during the holiday season.
"(Wishes can be) anything from a child wishing for a toy or a wish for an individual," McArtor said.
Five-year-old Isabelle wished she could fly and go to dragon land. McArtor's son Zain, 2, wrote down his wish for more lights and a water gun Wednesday night.
The wish tree has a little more than 9,000 lights on it and Parks and Recreation plans to add a few more. Next year, Parks and Recreation hopes to add more lights in other parts of Veterans Park. And eventually, McArtor said, they want to have a light display throughout the entire park.
To help the light display grow each year, the Parks and Recreation Department is accepting donations from individuals and businesses. Donations can be lights or light features, McArtor said.
The tree and wish box will be up until Jan. 1. After that, the light display will come down and the wish box will go to the Parks and Recreation Department. McArtor said the department is still finalizing a plan for the wishes. They are considering using them to make a wish wall display that they will add to the wish tree and box display next holiday season.
Christina Thomas and her daughter Kassandra attended the lighting ceremony Wednesday night. They both said the wish box added a unique aspect to the tree light display at the park. Kassandra said she likes that the wish box provides a place for people in the community to share their wishes. McArtor said she thinks the wish tree and box will help give some individuals hope that their wish may come true.
"We hope it will spread some joy and well being throughout the community," McArtor said.
The tree will be lit every night until Jan. 1.