There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap into this source, you will truly have defeated age.~ Sophia Loren
FOUNTASIA
On the posts that follow are concept ideas for my way to improve the Arch grounds. I am not an architect nor do I pretend to be one, but as a lifelong St Louisan I've grown to care a great deal about this community and its history.
The name of my proposal could be the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial water sculpture park, but I just like to call it Fountasia (with apologies to one of my inspirations, Walt Disney).
This concept changes the Arch and its grounds in three basic ways:
1- Instead of focusing on the 19th century as the current museum does, it focuses on the whole totality of St Louis history, including 8 historical periods that are of great note. I would propose doubling the size of the underground museum to include all 8 periods of history in Midwestern and St Louis development. I'd like to expand the focus as much as possible to showcase how and why St Louis developed into the center of Mississippi Valley development.
2- I utilize fountains as a means to make a statement with this concept. Fountains make this concept unique in all the world. Ever since man has walked the earth, waterfront property has been the most desirable- from lakefronts to beaches to river valleys. Water has a calming and relaxing effect for people, and has been used by man and nature to accomplish incredible and inspiring things. People travel from miles around to see Niagara falls, the Lake of the Ozarks, any sandy oceanfront beach, the Current River, and many more aquatic attractions. Number one tourist destinations such as Walt Disney World and Las Vegas incorporate water and fountains into much of their presentations to both entertain and relax their guests.
St Louis is a natural for such a fountain park because its historical reliance on rivers and the confluence of the two mightiest in the country, the Mississippi and Missouri. We are the home to the Gateway Geyser, the tallest fountain in America and the second tallest in the world. St Louis is just across the state from another city that has gained a worldwide reputation as a city of fountains, Kansas City. And we have proven that creativity can pay off with the addition of the City Garden in 2009, and the City Museum in 1997, two unique attractions that have helped make downtown an interesting destination.
3- This concept would add some things to do around the river that don't involve gambling. It would inspire at least 3 restaurants and 3 interactive activities, all of which would generate funds. It will provide things that downtown has needed for a long, long time such as an urban fishing pond, a children's fountain, and a way to get from downtown to the riverfront and then a way to get from the St Louis Riverfront over to the East side, incorporating all three sections into one destination.
Best of all it will make the Riverfront interesting and attractive again, complementing the majestic arch with something that Eero Saarinen and the city founders would be proud of. It could attract St Louisans and tourists alike to reflect about the Gateway that this land represents and the inspiration that was gained by those that passed by it.
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