Fort Wayne to launch downtown DORA this weekend
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
The city of Fort Wayne has announced a launch date for its downtown Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, or DORA.
Beginning Sunday, patrons will be able to take alcoholic drinks, which are poured into a 16-ounce plastic cup with a specific design, outside of an approved establishment as long as they stay within the permitted boundaries.
Downtown Fort Wayne’s DORA will run east to west from Calhoun to Harrison Streets and north to south from Promenade Park to Parkview Field.
The DORA will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. each day, and Downtown Fort Wayne’s Preston Wallace told our partners at WPTA-TV officials hope the effort will help restaurants and bring a little more nightlife to downtown.
”Talking to other markets, comparable to our side as a metropolitan, this was very important that we wanted to get their feedback. Has it been successful? What have been your challenges and your obstacles? And overwhelmingly have had nothing but positive response and feedback from those different markets,” said Wallace.
Nearly two dozen establishments in the designated area are participating in the DORA program. Signage has been installed to let people know when they are entering or exiting the DORA boundaries.
The process for creating the designated areas was established through the passage of Senate Enrolled Act 20 by the Indiana General Assembly in 2023, authored by Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne.
Wallace said the city will be able to establish up to six more DORA zones in the future.