City DORA Expanded to 7 Days A Week

Hilliard City Council voted unanimously Monday night to extend the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) to seven days a week this summer and expand the boundaries to include more businesses.

For 2021, the City will operate the DORA from noon to 9 p.m. daily from June 1 through Oct. 31. Council’s action also adds Franklin Street and five new participating establishments to the DORA boundaries. “The goal is to encourage growth and economic development in Old Hilliard,” said City Manager Michelle Crandall. “By expanding the DORA, we hope to see even more people enjoying our downtown area and safely enjoying meals and beverages outside.”

The Ohio Revised Code allows municipalities to create DORAs, establishing specific guidelines, times and boundaries in which the possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages are permitted outdoors in public rights of way.

The Hilliard DORA began on Main Street in summer 2017 allowing patrons of participating Old Hilliard restaurants and bars to enjoy alcoholic beverages within specific boundaries outdoors at the Thursday night “Celebration at the Station” concerts.

To support businesses that were negatively impacted by COVID-19 in 2020, the City closed a portion of Center Street, installed temporary tables and chairs, and expanded the DORA to four days a week to create a safe and socially distanced area for families to dine and enjoy adult beverages outdoors.

Council’s decision came after the City polled residents on whether they would support a seven-day-a-week DORA. Results showed that over 93 percent of those who participated were in favor of the daily DORA.

The expanded boundaries will add Yabo’s Tacos, Makoy Center, Benito’s, Hillgarten, and the planned Junction by Westwood to participating businesses. The DORA also includes Otie’s Tavern and Grill, the Old Bag of Nails Pub, Local Cantina, Starliner Diner, Legacy Smokehouse, Abner’s Casual Dining, and Crooked Can Brewing.

“Hilliard is an amazing community, and expanding the DORA will encourage people to come out and experience it for themselves,” Crandall said. The DORA will begin on June 1. Patrons must buy alcohol from one of the 13 participating establishments and drink in a designated DORA cup.

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Community Relations Department Earns National Awards

September 13, 2023

The City of Hilliard Community Relations Department received two national awards last week from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) at that organization’s annual conference in Orlando. The team took home one first-place “Savvy” award and another second-place “Silver Circle” award.

The City received awards for the following communication projects:

  • “Downtown Hilliard,” the package of communication concepts that launched the Downtown Hilliard brand in the “Economic Development” category;
  • “Fun, Friends, Future,” a hiring marketing campaign that helped reach seasonal employees to fill a large number of open positions in the “Government Service Delivery/Community Issue” category.

The Savvy Awards recognize outstanding local government achievements in communications, public-sector marketing, and resident-government relationships. The awards salute skilled and effective city, county, agency, and district professionals who have creatively planned and carried out successful innovations in communications and marketing.

More than 600 entries were entered in 38 categories in the competition.

3CMA is the nation’s premiere network of local government communicators. The organization was founded in 1988 on the philosophy that communications and marketing are essential to helping governments engage and build stronger relationships with their residents.

New Employee: Devin Albaugh

September 12, 2023

The City of Hilliard has hired Devin Albaugh as a new Maintenance Technician.

In this role, Albaugh will support the Recreation and Parks Department by performing tasks such as landscaping, park maintenance, road and pavement repair, building upkeep, and more.

“There’s a great energy with the City right now and all of its employees, so I’m excited to be a part of that,” Albaugh said. “This is a great opportunity for me to grow as an individual and I’m looking forward to serving the residents of Hilliard.”

Albaugh grew up in nearby Galloway and is a graduate of Westland High School. He recently welcomed newborn son Henry in July with his girlfriend Olivia.

In his free time, Albaugh enjoys playing guitar and drums and cheering on his favorite sports teams, including the Cleveland Browns, Ohio State, and the Blue Jackets.

Remembering 9/11: HPD Offers Tours of First Responders Park

August 30, 2023

Residents interested in learning more about First Responders Park will have an opportunity for a guided tour as the nation observes the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The City of Hilliard Division of Police will be offering tours guided by a police officer from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11. No registration is required. The tour is free.

Members of the Hilliard police and Norwich Township Fire Department Joint Honor Guard will ring a bell commemorating the times the World Trade Center towers and Pentagon were struck, as well as the crash of Flight 93. The bells will be rung at 8:46 a.m., 9:03 a.m., 9:37 a.m., and 10:03 a.m.

Hilliard’s First Responders Park, located in the center of Old Hilliard, memorializes those who died on 9/11 and pays tribute to the 403 First Responders who died making the ultimate sacrifice for their community.

In 2010, a delegation of 20 individuals representing the Division of Police, Norwich Township Fire Department, and the Hilliard community made the two-day round-trip from Hilliard to New York City to escort home seven tons of steel from the World Trade Center.

The memorial features granite walls inscribed with the names of those who lost their lives, a reflecting pool, personalized pavers, a monument honoring fallen officers, and a metal sculpture made from the steel of the World Trade Center.

Those wishing to take self-guided tours can reference signs describing 9/11 artifacts that will be placed in the park throughout the weekend.

The park is open for reflection and remembrance year-round. Learn more about First Responders Park here.
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