A plan to allow adults to drink alcohol in designated parts of Beech Grove and during special events at a city park cleared its first hurdle. But it’s not a done deal.
Councilors are considering a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, commonly referred to as a DORA. About 45 Indiana municipalities have a DORA, including Speedway, Carmel and Danville.
Beech Grove’s proposed ordinance would allow adults to purchase alcohol on Main Street from liquor-licensed vendors throughout the summer on Thursday-Sunday, and take DORA-approved containers into nearby participating businesses. The plan is an attempt to boost the local economy. Adults would also be able to purchase alcohol during city-sanctioned events at Sarah T. Bolton Park.
Dora #1: Downtown Beech Grove
🕠 5-10 p.m. Thursday-Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
🗓️ Memorial Day to Labor Day
📍 Main Street from Emerson Avenue to 8th Avenue
DORA #2: Sarah T. Bolton Park
🕠 Only during city-sanctioned events
🗓️ May to August, excluding July Fourth celebrations
📍 1300 Churchman Ave.; the entertainment shelter bounded by 15th Avenue, the alley north of the park area, and the Franciscan Trail
The proposal has brewed much debate as some say a DORA could attract more visitors, while others fear it could encourage teen drinking. If approved, alcohol consumption laws, such as impaired driving and underage drinking, would still be in effect.
After a contentious discussion on June 1, the seven-member city council passed the ordinance 4-3 on first reading. Ordinances must pass three readings before they’re final. Councilors will discuss and vote on a second reading during their monthly meeting at 7 p.m. July 6 at Beech Grove City Hall, 802 Main St.
Mirror Indy broke down how each councilor voted on the first reading of the ordinance and provided a comment from the June 1 council meeting. Here’s how they voted:
❌ Elizabeth Lamping — District 1
Lamping voted against the proposal because she said the state’s open-carry laws wouldn’t mix well with a DORA. The long-time nurse also said medical research about the impacts of alcohol influenced her decision.
“We know what the effects of alcohol does on all systems of the body — heart disease, vascular disease, vessel disease of all kinds, alcohol affects and deteriorates the body just in the same way,” Lamping said. “I’d be a true hypocrite to myself, and to what I stand for.”
✅ Ryan Matkins — District 2
Matkins voted in favor of the proposal. He said he understands residents’ concerns about underage drinking, but he said children are already around adults consuming alcohol when they go to local restaurants.
“We can’t shelter them from everything,” Matkins said during a discussion before the vote. “I understand we should do what we can, as much as we can. However, reality is, it is not going to happen 100% and to restrict everybody else’s ability also, at the same time, I don’t know if that’s fair.”
❌ Michael Hemmelgarn — District 3
Hemmelgarn voted against the proposal because his brother died in a car crash involving a drunk driver in 1977 while in Texas.
“Alcohol has never done my family no favors, so just so everybody knows my view,” Hemmelgarn said at the end of the meeting. “And the people I’ve spoken to from every district, (they say), ‘No, Beech Grove doesn’t need that.’”
✅ Avis Frieson — District 4
Frieson, who voted in favor of the proposal, said a DORA is “about creating safe, welcoming spaces where families and neighbors and local businesses can thrive together.”
“What I’m hearing is, everybody think we just gonna be walking up and down the road drinking all day and night, and that’s not what’s happening,” Frieson said. “I don’t drink, but I don’t think I have a right to stop everybody, from their designated area, to take care of what they’re doing.”
✅ Mike Earnest — District 5
Earnest said one of the reasons he voted in favor of the proposal is because he thinks about 90% of constituents support it.
“I can tell you on this subject alone, I’ve seen more engagement than pretty much anything else that I brought to District 5’s attention,” Earnest said.
❌ Dan McMillan — At large
McMillan, who suggested councilors “do away with the DORA 100%,” voted against the proposal.
“Overwhelmingly, the people that has contacted me is not in support of this DORA,” McMillan said.
✅ Chris Duffer — At large
Duffer voted in favor of the proposal because he said feedback from residents has been “kind of split relatively even.” Still, he said anything could happen.
“If a grassroots situation happens and they contact me, and they don’t want this,” Duffer said, “then the voting might change and it might not pass on second or third reading.”
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Mirror Indy reporter Elizabeth Gabriel covers the south side of Marion County. Contact her at elizabeth.gabriel@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X at @_elizabethgabs.
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