COLUMBUS – Columbus City Council on Monday will take up a revised version of a request from the administration to create a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in the Arena District that shrinks the area where residents can openly carry alcoholic beverages when the Blue, Jackets, Clippers or Crew are playing home games.
After getting feedback during a June 24 public hearing and community meetings, council members decided to remove McFerson Commons Park, Neil Avenue, Spring Street and other areas from the DORA.
The original proposal encompassed Nationwide Arena, Huntington Park, Lower.com Field, McFerson Commons Park, Spring Street and Neil Avenue but residents expressed concerns that some of these were residential neighborhood areas with no retail establishments, so these areas have been removed:
- McFerson Commons Park
- Neil Avenue south of Nationwide Blvd
- New Public Lane
- Parks Edge Place
- Spring Street
- West Street
- John H. McConnell Blvd
Establishing the designated entertainment district would allow customers and fans to buy alcoholic beverages from participating bars and restaurants and take them outside and into other participating restaurants, bars and retail shops from three hours prior to the start of the game and 11:59 p.m. the same day.
Under the provisions of creating a DORA, City Council must vote down the original legislation and then immediately move to pass the new ordinance.
If it does the DORA in the Arena District could be active for the first time during the third quarter of the year.