Toasting their recent win for commonsense, the Green Square Parties at the Shops event raised funds for the upkeep of the newly replanted lawns.

Two years after the square's grass was replaced with spiky native plants, the government and local business owners reached a deal to have the lawn areas replanted and a new watering system installed in January. Sunday's event saw hundreds of locals come for food, live music, a raffle, face-painting and balloons with the money raised to be used for the future upkeep.

A commemorative plaque was unveiled at the event, which also featured ice-creams and more than a few garden gnomes.

Green Square jeweller and event organiser Gabi Radinger said the two-year fight to have grass returned had brought traders, customers and local residents together. ''We have really bonded and linked up to form what is really a friendship group more than anything else,'' she said.

''The Kingston Traders Association obviously really wanted to get it done and as a result everybody has contributed to make sure the grass was returned.''

Ms Radinger said the raffle had collected more than $500, with the total amounts raised to be counted this week. ''We had the most fantastic turnout of people. It was meant to start at 12.30, but people started arriving at about 11, and they brought picnic rugs and chairs. Everyone sat on the lawn and lapped up the fun,'' she said.

Persistent drought saw the ACT government stop watering the square's grassed area in 2006, causing it to quickly deteriorate into a dustbowl.

In 2010, the then Labor chief minister, Jon Stanhope, had the area relandscaped and drought-resistant plants were installed.

Last year, Kingston property owner Pawl Cubbin agreed to pay up to $20,000 for the installation of grass and a watering system and Canturf donated more than $2000 worth of lawn for the area.

On Sunday the new grass survived the crucial tests of cartwheels, dancing and games.

''We've been fighting so long, so its just great to see people embrace the area again and have coffees or picnics out in the sun,'' Ms Radinger said.

''On weekdays people are using the grass to sit and eat their lunch. It's wonderful.''