CLEVELAND — Cleveland City Council signed off on a proposal to create the city's first designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) on East 4th Street during Monday's meeting.
Patrons on East 4th Street ages 21 and older will be allowed to purchase alcoholic beverages in a designated plastic cup from participating establishments and freely move around the DORA with their drink. The arrival of a DORA on East 4th Street will also allow restaurants to remove the fencing that surrounds its patios, replacing it with planters.
According to Cleveland Public Safety Director Karrie Howard, the hours of operation for the DORA will be from 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. from Monday through Sunday. Howard adds that there will be a minimum of seven signs designating the boundary of the DORA, including on all street intersections along this boundary.
The state of Ohio approved the creation of DORAs in 2015 and several cities, including Akron, Canton, and Shaker Heights, have utilized them.
Cleveland City Council put the wheels in motion on having a DORA in February, when it approved Mayor Justin Bibb's $1.65 million plan to create an outdoor drinking area on East 4th. "Throughout Ohio DORA’s have proven to be economic drivers and destination definers in large cities and smaller towns and yet Ohio’s most vital city has yet to share in these success stories," the city's proposal to council read.
In addition to the DORA, the approved plan provides for a new valet system where the drop-off point will be on Prospect Avenue and the pick-up area will be on Euclid Avenue. The existing valet area would turn into a "pocket park," that will feature pop-up merchants, a canopy, drop-down swings, and public art.
