Council adopts amendment to downtown DORA to allow events in August and September

The Schererville Town Council on March 11 adopted Ordinance No. 2022a to amend the towns designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) in the downtown district, allowing the expanded DORA to operate in August and September and to include specified weekends.

Director of Operations Andy Hanson explained that the amendment "will allow the DORA to exist in the months of August and September, and it will include Bridal, Saturdays, and Sundays," and that the change will give the parks department more flexibility when scheduling downtown events tied to street festivals.

Why it matters: the amendment is intended to accommodate the towns downtown street festival and other community gatherings without requiring repeated ordinance changes. Hanson said the street fest is scheduled for September and that the DORA area runs from Junction Avenue to Francisca along Joliet Street.

Council moved quickly on the item. A motion to approve the ordinance passed on a voice vote, with the adoption recorded 5-0.

What happens next: With the ordinance adopted, parks staff can schedule outdoor refreshment-area activities in the newly authorized months, and event planning for the September street festival can proceed under the revised DORA rules.