MANSFIELD — Legislation creating a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in Mansfield should be ready for City Council in July, according to Mayor Jodie Perry.
The mayor on Wednesday afternoon updated members of the Downtown Improvement Advisory Board on the DORA plan, which she said is being developed with Safety Service Director Keith Porch and Public Utilities Director Louis Andres.
A DORA is a specified area of land that a local legislative authority (city council or township trustees) designates as exempt from certain open container provisions as set forth in Ohio Revised Code Section 4301.82.
The current plan calls for the DORA to include an area from Adams Street to Mulberry Street and Second Street to Fifth Street.
It would operate Wednesdays through Saturdays, though special days could be added.
Many communities around Ohio have enacted DORAs, including Ashland, Wooster, Mount Vernon, Crestline and Bucyrus. There are no current DORAs in Richland County.
City Council is scheduled to next meet July 21.
Perry said a meeting with downtown bar and restaurant owners would be scheduled to explain the DORA plans and procedures.
Within the DORA’s boundaries, patrons can purchase an open beverage containing alcohol from an on-premises liquor permit holder, such as a bar or restaurant, and leave the premises with the drink in a specified DORA cup and continue consuming it.
While the law places certain restrictions on DORAs, creating a DORA is a locally controlled decision. Local officials determine its size, hours of operation, what cups are used, and any health, safety and sanitation plans, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce.
If local lawmakers approve the DORA plan, Perry said the idea would be to launch it in October, which is also when the 18-month Main Street Corridor Improvement Project is expected to be complete.
“I would like to do something downtown to celebrate that completion,” Perry said. “It could be a good launch to the DORA.”
Main Street Business Resilience Grant Program expanded
The Downtown Improvement Advisory Board on Wednesday also approved expanding the Main Street Business Resilience Grant Program, which issues $2,500 grants to businesses along the corridor that can demonstrate sales declines during the construction project that began in March 2025.
The DIAB set aside $50,000 in 2025 to make 20 such grants possible to qualifying businesses that can demonstrate a 15-percent decline in sales revenue over a 60-day period when compared to 2024.
Jennifer Kime, CEO of Downtown Mansfield Inc., said just 12 of the 20 grants have been awarded.
The board voted Wednesday to allow businesses that were previously awarded grants in 2025 to apply again in 2026. The board also lowered the threshold to 10 percent and approved reserving an additional $10,000 for the program if businesses apply.
Board approves $10,000 for enhanced Final Friday event security
The board also approved setting aside up to $10,000 for additional security measures, including cameras, during the remaining Final Friday events.
The board discussed concerns with large crowds gathering and drinking alcohol in the Municipal Parking lot near the Brickyard, which is where the open-air concert events take place.
Many of these people are bringing their own alcohol and “tailgating” in the public parking lot, especially after the concerts end.
Downtown Mansfield Inc., which sponsors the popular Final Friday events, hires off-duty Mansfield police officers for the concerts.
Porch said the Mansfield Police Department augments that security with additional on-duty officers and has plans to beef up the effort.
