Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
WASHINGTON – With the new Commons in downtown Washington ready for its first full season of events, city leaders saw one thing that was missing – a DORA.
A DORA is a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area and the Washington City Council passed an ordinance at its recent council meeting creating a DORA in downtown Washington. A DORA allows adults 21 and older to buy alcoholic beverages from approved vendors and carry them outside, staying within a designated area.
Indiana law permitting municipalities to pass ordinances creating DORAs went into effect in July 2023. Since then, more than 30 cities and towns have established DORAs, including Jasper and Huntingburg in the Radius Indiana region.
Washington Mayor David Rhoads said the $3.1 million Commons was the impetus for pursuing a DORA.
“The Commons project has steered this,” Rhoads said. “What it will be and become as a gathering place for events, that’s what moved this along.”
Rhoads attended a seminar to learn about DORAs in Plainfield over a year ago. To gauge interest, Rhoads said the city talked with local businesses about a DORA. A member of the city council was on board with looking into a DORA as was Discover Downtown Washington, the city’s Main Street organization.
Cindy Barber, president of Discover Downtown Washington and Community Development Educator for Purdue Extension Daviess County, said leaders talked with Heart of Jasper about their DORA to learn about the benefits and any drawbacks.
Barber said hearing from another city with a DORA was very helpful.
‘“We talked with retailers, business and property owners and everyone has been open to seeing what this would look like long term to attract more people downtown,” Barber said.
Having a DORA downtown will also streamline the process for beer gardens. Barber said those vendors in the past had to apply for permits; having a DORA will eliminate some steps for vendors.
The proposed DORA will cover the downtown business district. Signage will mark the borders so the public understands they can’t exit with an adult beverage. To consume alcohol in the DORA, adults must use a designated DORA cup that will be provided by the alcohol seller. The ordinance also sets days and hours of the DORA.
The city will provide window decals that will be displayed in local businesses indicating whether they are a DORA participant or not. If businesses don’t want customers bringing an alcoholic drink into their space, they can post a decal.
Discover Downtown Washington assisted with designing signage, mapping the DORA district and informing downtown businesses how to prepare.
The city is currently awaiting state approval of the DORA.
The DORA is not just for special events. Downtown visitors can order a beverage from a downtown business and stroll downtown, provided the drink is in a DORA cup and they stay within the DORA.
Events at the Commons are in the planning stages. First Fridays will begin in April and the Farmers Market will open June 7 and run through October.