Cleveland City Council approves the city’s first designated outdoor drinking area

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Cleveland City Council members approved the city’s first designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) at their meeting Monday evening.

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb sponsored the the ordinance.

Adults 21 years old or older will be able to get a special DORA cup for alcohol and be able to walk around outside with it on East 4th Street between Prospect and Euclid Avenues.

The DORA will be available every day from 10 a.m. until 2 a.m.

The restaurant and bars will also add recycling containers on the street for the cups.

Ed Eckart with the Downtown Cleveland Alliance said the goal is to have this up and running by Spring 2024 after renovations are made to East 4th.

“The current area where the valet is located is going to be turned into a small pocket park downtown with a small stage, so it will allow for entertainment, seating areas so people will be able to get their beverage go over there and relax,” Eckart said.

Eckart hopes DCA will be able to expand the DORA to additional spots in downtown.

“This is kind of a pilot. We hope that this will be successful. We’re confident it will be,” Eckart said. “Sometime down the road we’d like to see it expand.”

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