We have a Lawn and Lawn Alternatives area in our Palo Alto Demonstration Garden waterwise area. It demos choices for lower water, lower maintenance, and less fertilizer-using plants for home landscapes in three categories:
Lawns, four types, with smooth, mowable surfaces for kids and pets to play on.
Groundcovers, four types, that have a walkable, low-growing surface.
High-growing meadow grasses, four types, for low foot traffic .