json

<?php
$s.='[{
    "id":1,
    "text":"City",
    "children":[{
        "id":11,
        "text":"Wyoming",
        "children":[{
            "id":111,
            "text":"Albin"
        },{
            "id":112,
            "text":"Canon"
        },{
            "id":113,
            "text":"Egbert"
        }]
    },{
        "id":12,
        "text":"Washington",
        "state":"closed",
        "children":[{
            "id":121,
            "text":"Bellingham"
        },{
            "id":122,
            "text":"Chehalis"
        },{
            "id":123,
            "text":"Ellensburg"
        },{
            "id":124,
            "text":"Monroe"
        }]
    }]
}]';

$json=json_decode($s, TRUE);
echo '<pre>';print_r($json);