Lawns are needed for the game of golf, but this is one of several reasons I personally oppose the subsidization of golf by any government. But aside from these uses of lawn, many areas are turned into lawn because lawn has been the default button for land use since the invention of the Toro. Lawn mowers provide the non-thinking answer to every landscaping question. Even the Amish make an exception to their rule against motorized things and allow the use of the sacred lawn mower. We on the Planning Commission can help as people are now breaking out of this straitjacket.
Water is important to insect life and wildlife, but it is scarce in the urban landscape.
Cities have been robbed of their streams, wetlands and seasonal ponds. On Beacon Hill's Maple Park two potentially beautiful seasonal ponds are drained away by pipes. For all these reasons a water feature at Jefferson Park would be a major plus for wildlife and biodiversity. But there are water features and there are water features. A good example of what I personally consider to be a worthless water feature is in Bellevue's park south of Bel-Square.