"You cannot have this great treasure — that's the Arch — and surround it by junk."

Former Missouri Senator John Danforth is continuing his push to turn the Arch grounds into a more inviting place and more importantly, a place where there is something for visitors to do.

And to accomplish this, he plans to put a lot of his own money into the effort.

Good for him.  It is telling that the past Arch director recently left to head up the Washington D.C. Mall, a place which is definitely a destination point where there are lots of things to see and do as well as places to eat, sit and use restrooms when necessary.

Lots of trees are nice, walking up to the Arch and touching the metal is interesting...once.  Paying a fairly large amount of money to take the family up to the top of the Arch is interesting...once.  But to keep people coming back, tourists and locals alike, there has to be something else.  St. Louis needs the Arch grounds to be edifying, but also attractive with attractions.  And, last but not least, an easy way to get there on foot from downtown.