The grass on the Plaza is an oasis and a gift to every Santa Fean and visitor, a needed contrast to the hard-paved streets, sidewalks and buildings of the surrounding area. Yes, the Plaza was once dirt, and the streets of Washington, D.C., were once mud. Sometimes things improve.

In nearly every Mexican colonial town, there is a beautiful plaza with trees, fountains, and planted areas, sometimes with shrubs and flowers, sometimes also grass. The planted areas are usually protected by a low curb or foot-high wrought-iron enclosure to discourage trampling the plantings. These plazas and the Santa Fe Plaza have enough paved area to support civic events and, in the case of Santa Fe, quite a few commercial events.

Within the perimeter sidewalks, the Santa Fe Plaza is about 60 percent landscaped and about 40 percent paved. Hopefully, the recent refurbishing has not diminished the landscaped areas. I believe that the Community Convention Center's courtyard would be enhanced by the addition of a little grass and a few more trees to balance the large paved area.

The city spends more than $6,000 annually resodding the Plaza grass — not a large amount, given the value to citizens and tourists. Various gentle-handed measures to protect the grass and to limit its use could be instigated. Perhaps only Spanish Market, Indian market and Fiesta should be allowed vendors on the grass. Hopefully, teenagers and families with small children will always feel comfortable sitting on the grass.

Of course, the grass requires heavy irrigation. But the effect of the green turf beneath the shade trees in the heart of town is worth every dollar and drop of water spent. In general, xeriscape landscaping is necessary and appropriate for nearly everywhere in Santa Fe, but the Plaza is an exception because of its relatively small size and its concentrated public use.

The Plaza greenery is in no way incidental or merely decorative; it is a useful and provides a welcome relief from the narrow streets of downtown, particularly the congested San Francisco and Water streets area. In a town rampant with commercialism, this generous community gift for all to enjoy should not be sacrificed for increased commercial enterprise.

Beverley Spears is a Santa Fe architect.