Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council committee approves Playhouse Square DORA with limited activation and review
Summary
Council approved an ordinance that would create a Playhouse Square Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA). The administration and Playhouse Square said it will be activated in a limited fashion (4–5 times a year) with barricaded entries, security and sanitation plans; council members pressed for annual review, limits under state law and broader citywide strategy.
The committee approved ordinance 557-2026 to create a designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) in the Playhouse Square district. Lucas Reeves, senior adviser in the mayor’s office, and Playhouse Square representatives described the DORA application process under Ohio Revised Code §4301.82 and said the Playhouse Square plan includes security, sanitation, vendor management and tenant engagement. Nate Kelly of Playhouse Square said the group expects to activate the outdoor portion about four or five times per year for events such as Tri‑C Jazz Fest and that the organization will staff security and sanitation and provide DORA‑branded cups for beverages.
Council members asked whether the DORA would count toward the statutory limit of six DORAs statewide and whether the administration plans to expand or merge zones (for example with the Gateway district or East 4th). Members also asked how enforcement will work at the boundaries and whether the DORA should be permanent rather than tied primarily to special events. The administration and Playhouse Square said the request is a limited, controlled initial rollout with a required annual evaluation and that expansion could be considered later. The committee recorded the ordinance as approved; the legislation will proceed for state-level review per Ohio law.
Council members asked for follow-up hearings in the fall to track the pilot implementation and to discuss a citywide strategy for future DORA requests.
