ESCANABA — The Escanaba Downtown Development Authority is recommending that the Escanaba City Council approve a Social District for a portion of the downtown.

DDA Chair Sue Parker said the social district would help with outside dining, events and the walkability of the downtown.

“That seems to be the way a lot of downtowns are going right now with upstairs apartments and being able to walk around from business to business and just be able to enjoy your downtown. People like a way to enjoy a beer, a craft beer, have a beverage and go for a walk,” Parker said.

A social district is a specific area where alcoholic drinks in designated containers are allowed to be carried outside of the bar or restaurant that the drink was purchased from. Seven other communities in the Upper Peninsula already have social districts.

The DDA Board approved a logo, layout and a management plan for the city to consider. There are 13 businesses or organizations in the proposed social district that could participate. They would need to be approved by the city and then licensed by the state.

The DDA would be responsible for signage to establish the boundaries of the social district and work with bars and restaurants to understand the state law and local regulations.

“A Social District is another way to re-shape the way we view our downtowns. The goal is to make Ludington Street a walkable, community gathering place with music, festivals, retail promotions and different community events,” said Craig Woerpel, executive director of the Escanaba DDA.

The district would include what are called Commons Areas from 14th Street to the Escanaba Marina and include South 13th and 11th Streets to the alley and North 9th and 7th Streets to 1st Avenue North. The Municipal Dock and Marina would be Event Commons Areas.

Those businesses participating would need to sell alcohol in a designated cup with the logo of the business and social district on it before the patron could leave the bar or restaurant. Those cups could only be used once.

“For instance, these who join us on a boat and go out to diner. You can take your beer and walk back to the boat with it, legally. It has to be in a designated container that has been purchased from one of the participating businesses,” Parker said.

The city already supplies waste cans at each corner of the downtown. Those and other regulations would be pointed out to those purchasing social district cups.

Parker said social districts have been successful in other communities and feels that Escanaba could benefit from the program.