About three months after Mayor John Cranley announced his plans to transform The Banks into a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), an opening date has been confirmed for the project.
The 85-acre district will officially open at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 25.
A DORA means you can walk around a specific space with a drink in hand if you're of legal drinking age.
The designated space spans from Paul Brown Stadium to Heritage Bank Center and to the south sidewalk of Second Street and north sidewalk of Mehring Way. Smale Park is not included in The Banks' DORA district.
The city will permanently close Freedom Way from Joe Nuxhall Way to Walnut Street beginning at 11 a.m. on March 25, with the opening of the district.
The DORA will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week, during which visitors may purchase their adult beverages in DORA cups from participating businesses and traverse the district.
Some rules to be aware of:
- Alcoholic beverages must be in specific DORA cups.
- DORA beverages must stay within the boundaries of the district.
- Guests may take their DORA beverages from participating businesses but are not permitted to bring their drink into another business.
- Visitors are subject to open-container laws when outside of the district.
- DORA beverage sales open at 11 a.m. and close at midnight.
Signage and maps will be placed throughout the district with guidelines and boundaries.
Below is a map of the new district.
