Editing Las Cruces, New Mexico (section)

===Cityscape===
[[File:LasCrucesNM WellsFargoTower.jpg|right|thumb|[[Wells Fargo Tower (Las Cruces)|Wells Fargo Tower]] is the tallest building in downtown Las Cruces.]]

Unlike many cities its size, Las Cruces lacks a true central business district, because in the 1960s, an urban-renewal project tore down a large part of the original downtown. Many chain stores and national restaurants are located in the rapidly developing east side. Las Cruces' shopping mall and a variety of retail stores and restaurants are located in this area.

The historic downtown of the city is the area around Main Street, a six-block stretch of which was closed off in 1973 to form a pedestrianized shopping area. The downtown mall has an extensive farmers' market each Wednesday and Saturday mornings, where a variety of foods and cultural items can be purchased from numerous small stands that are set up by local farmers, artists, and craftspeople.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web| title = Farmers' and Crafts Market of Las Cruces {{!}} FCMLC| url = http://www.fcmlc.org| website = www.fcmlc.org| access-date = 2015-10-28}}</ref> This area also contains museums, businesses, restaurants, churches, art galleries, and theaters, which add a great deal to the changing character of Las Cruces' historic downtown.

In August 2005, a [[comprehensive planning|master plan]] was adopted, the centerpiece of which was the restoration of narrow lanes of two-way traffic on this model portion of Main Street, which was reopened to vehicular traffic in 2012.

In February 2013, Las Cruces Mayor [[Ken Miyagishima]] announced during his "State of the City" address that a {{convert|700|acre|adj=on}} park in the area behind the Las Cruces Dam was under construction, in cooperation with the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]]. The area features trails through restored wetlands, and serves as a major refuge for [[migratory bird]]s and a key recreational area for the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://krwg.org/post/full-text-las-cruces-state-city-address|title=Full Text: Las Cruces State Of The City Address|first=KRWG News And|last=Partners|date=13 February 2013 }}</ref>