Fire destroys Lt. Robert E. Lee in Saint Louis

Connecting the river

First of all, maybe the exterior of the Arch was completed in 1965, but it wasn't opened to the public until July 1967. Secondly how to reconnect the city to the river and make the Arch grounds less of an island? Chop down the d.... forest they grew all over the grounds so that the river can't be seen from the city unless you are on at least a 4th floor of a building! Those 'magnificent grounds (jungle)' are the separating element, and they provide a safe sanctuary for muggers I would think. The Gateway boats are now run by the Metrolink system, or whatever the light rail system is called. It would seem that this entity could be the catalyst in the effort to bring people back to the riverfront. Incidentally, as I recall the early drawings for the landscaping, there were to be two huge ponds, one at each arch leg, with SOME trees around them, not the huge dense forest/jungle they have since created. Put a new McDonalds Riverboat restaurant down by the excursion boat docks, which would be at the Arch steps. Bring the LT. ROBERT E. LEE back as a restaurant and the BECKY THATCHER as a museum.... oops, forgot. Buy one of the many direlect gambling boats and reoutfit it into a museum, amusement park, restaurant attraction (recreate the Main Deck of the ADMIRAL on it!) Create an active river museum down there for use by school and community groups, with a calliope to attract attention. Drop the parking charge on the levee. etc. etc. but number one is to make the river and Arch grounds visible from downtown.