BEECH GROVE, Ind. (MIRROR INDY) — Beech Grove city councilors will take a preliminary vote June 1 on a proposal to allow adults to drink alcohol while walking within certain areas of the city.
To do so, councilors would have to approve a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, commonly referred to as a DORA. Clerk-Treasurer Samantha Stratton, who presented the ordinance during a May meeting, said the goal is to increase foot traffic at local businesses while also creating a more walkable downtown environment.
“It’s just a way to get more exposure for Main Street Beech Grove, and I know we’ve been doing a really good job of just getting more people here, but I think there’s always room for improvement,” Stratton said.
The proposed ordinance suggests implementing designated outdoor summer drinking areas in a section of downtown on weekends and at Sarah T. Bolton Park during special events. For now, the park would only enact the DORA during the city’s summer concert series and exclude holiday celebrations, such as July Fourth, according to city staff.
But it’s not a sure thing.
During the meeting, some councilors seemed to be in favor of the ordinance while others had a lot of questions. Residents also seem split. Some say it could boost the local business economy while others worry about the message it sends and substance abuse.
Phil Davis lives about two blocks from Main Street, the epicenter of downtown Beech Grove. He said a DORA would be an asset for the southside city and help support local businesses.
He indicated there’s been some concern about teens having access to alcohol.
Davis said the establishments on Main Street aren’t selling alcohol to teens. He doesn’t think this drink designation would boost local teen drinking, noting it has been done in other communities, such as Speedway and Greenwood.
“I do understand that concern, but it’s just not true,” Davis said.
Main Street in downtown Beech Grove is pictured on the evening of Jan. 21, 2026, in Marion County. Credit: Brett Phelps/Mirror Indy/CatchLight Local/Report for America
Davis said the area’s autonomy to try new things, and adjust as needed, is a benefit of being an independent city from Indianapolis. Now he plans to reach out to his councilors, Ryan Matkins for District 2 and at large members Chris Duffer and Dan McMillan with the hope of gaining their support.
Earlier this month, the city’s parks board unanimously voted to write a letter of support for a DORA at Sarah T. Bolton Park.
“As it stands, residents are bringing alcohol into the parks for these and other events without regulation, oversight, or benefit to the city and its programs,” the letter states. “With a regulated path to limited alcohol sales, the city and parks can stay competitive with other nearby municipalities and events, draw in more interest in our programs, increase profitability and viability of these events, and still maintain the same safe, family friendly atmosphere we know of Beech Grove’s parks.”
But, some residents don’t feel this way.
How could a DORA impact kids?
Diana Hendricks remembers when former Mayor Dennis Buckley asked her to help curb teen overdoses. Over the past decade, the Beech Grove Comprehensive Drug Free Coalition has grown to support schools across the south side, including Franklin Township and Southport.
Hendricks said a DORA would taint the strong family-friendly community Beech Grove has worked to cultivate. She also fears it would further reinforce the idea that people must use alcohol to have fun, and provide barriers for adults in recovery.
“When they’re in recovery,” she Hendricks said, “they can’t be around that stuff.”
Hendricks said the community, which is less than 5 square miles, doesn’t have enough gathering spaces to accommodate people who want to drink outdoors and those who don’t.
“We’ve only got one main street,” Hendricks said. “Where some communities, like Greenwood who put (a DORA) in, they have several different areas. So, they don’t worry about it so much.”
Main Street in downtown Beech Grove is pictured on the evening of Jan. 21, 2026, in Marion County. Credit: Brett Phelps/Mirror Indy/CatchLight Local/Report for America
If approved, businesses that don’t serve alcohol could display a sign outlining whether they allow or prohibit drinking on their premises. For Susie McMillan, owner of Rosebud Flowers & Gifts, that isn’t enough.
McMillan, whose shop sits near two bars, is concerned about what would happen if customers are there while an intoxicated patron walks into her establishment and refuses to leave.
“I have to call the police,” McMillan said. “What do you think’s going to happen with that customer? You think they’re going to stay in here and wait around and purchase something from me or even ever come back here again. I know what I would do, I would leave.”
McMillan also expressed concerns about teen drinking and increases to her liability insurance. Clerk-Treasurer Samantha Stratton said the city would be liable if something were to happen due to the new alcohol district, not businesses. Still, McMillan said a DORA wouldn’t fit Beech Grove’s culture.
“We are not Carmel, we are not Zionsville, we are Beech Grove. We don’t have the same kind of people that Carmel and Zionsville have,” McMillan said. “We don’t get people that shop up and down Main Street that often. People come here for a reason.”
McMillan said her husband, Councilor Dan McMillan, is also against the proposal.
Breaking down the proposed DORA
Businesses that opt into the program would be required to serve all alcoholic drinks in DORA-approved containers and a person could only leave an establishment with one drink at a time.
The maximum allowed sizes would be:
Beer and malt-flavored drinks: 16 ounces
Wine, cider and hard seltzer: 12 ounces
Mixed drinks: 10 ounces, containing no more than 2 ounces of liquor
Only beverages sold by local businesses within the DORA boundaries would be allowed. Participating liquor-licensed businesses would pay an annual $200 fee to participate, which would help cover costs including signage, public safety and sanitation, according to Stratton.
Mobile alcohol vendors would pay $50 per event.
Police officers will continue to enforce laws related to alcohol consumption, including disorderly conduct, impaired driving and underage drinking.
The Beech Grove city council is expected to vote on the first reading of the ordinance at 7 p.m. June 1 at Beech Grove City Hall, 802 Main St.
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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.
