MOUNT VERNON — A drink in hand, a seat on the square and nowhere in particular to be — that’s the kind of downtown experience residents envision based on the city’s DORA community survey results.
The city on Oct. 12 posted the short, five-minute survey on its Facebook page. The questionnaire’s main objective was to find if the community supports moving beyond event-only operations.
“We wanted to know what’s bringing people downtown and how we could make a more engaged downtown district,” said Safety Service Director Tanner Salyers.
He shared the survey results at Monday’s council meeting.
The city found 75.2% of respondents favor moving beyond an event-only Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area and 65% prefer some form of regular operation. Detailed responses can be found below.
Salyers said the next step is to present a proposal to council for the expansion of DORA and — if it passes — pick a start date, which would likely be in the spring.
“We want to use the square as a third space for people to hang out,” Salyers said.
Potential expansions could include a bandstand and benches being added to Public Square.
“We want the open flow of commerce, everybody visiting Mount Vernon, enjoying the downtown, associating with one another and getting outside and having fun,” Salyers said.
Current DORA boundaries:
Results breakdown
There were 401 total responses recorded for the entire survey. Response rates vary based on each question.
| Key finding | Share of 399 responses |
| Support regular DORA hours | 75.2% |
| View DORA positively | 67.8% |
| More likely to plan visits with predictable hours | 65.1% |
| Prefer some regular schedule | 65.0% |
Preferred schedule
| Schedule | Share of 397 responses |
| Seven days a week | 25.9% |
| Thursday-Sunday | 24.7% |
| Events only (current system) | 15.1% |
| Friday-Saturday | 14.6% |
| Eliminate DORA | 12.1% |
| Seasonal regular hours | 7.6% |
The survey revealed respondents most value DORA when it occurs alongside live music, festivals, outdoor dining, seasonal activities and food trucks.
Additionally, 132 respondents said they would use DORA without an organized event.
Concerns and safeguards
| Frequently cited concern | Selections |
| Litter | 167 |
| Public intoxication | 144 |
| Traffic and pedestrian safety | 120 |
| Underage drinking | 86 |
| Public safety | 86 |
| Enforcement | 77 |
| Impact on families and children | 77 |
The most requested safeguards included posted DORA boundaries, established hours, additional trash and recycling containers, required DORA cups and periodic city evaluation.
Of 389 respondents, 201 preferred a fixed closing time of 10 or 11 p.m.
How respondents would define success
| Measure | Selections |
| More people spending time downtown | 269 |
| Increased business activity | 246 |
| Longer downtown visits | 239 |
| Higher attendance at downtown activities | 223 |
| No significant public safety problems | 219 |
| More restaurants and businesses opening | 218 |
