By Victoria Ratliff
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS—Indianapolis restaurants will be able to reopen their dine-in services as Marion County slowly lifts some of the city’s restrictions.

Marion County officials announced last week that restaurants will be allowed to offer dine-in services with new guidelines that include outdoor seating only.

But to allow for more outdoor dining options, some road segments in the city will be closed beginning May 22 to allow restaurants to extend tables into sidewalks, streets or even parking lots.

“We may not get everything correct right off the bat, and for each business, we may have to work together to find unique solutions for problems that may arise,” Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said at a virtual press conference Tuesday.

The city is following Gov. Eric Holcomb’s statewide reopening plan, just at a slower pace than the rest of the state. Dine-in services at restaurants statewide opened at 50% capacity statewide in every county except Marion, Vas’s, and Lake starting May 11. Hogsett previously said that it is because of the city’s unique needs when attempting to limit the number of COVID-19 cases in the city and county.

Since the beginning of the pandemic in early March, Indianapolis and Marion County have had a larger number of COVID-19 cases and deaths than any other part of the state.

Tuesday, Indiana State Department of Health data showed that of the 481 new cases of the virus reported statewide, 145 were in Marion County. The county now has 8,541 total cases and 497 deaths, more than any other county. Statewide, 28,705 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and 1,678 have died of the disease with another 146 deaths of people who had symptoms but had not been diagnosed.

Hogsett said that his concern is making sure there isn’t a surge in cases by opening too soon, adding that limiting seating to outdoor dining can decrease the likelihood of the spread of COVID-19 as the city moves forward with its reopening plan.

“As we begin to reopen our city, our ongoing commitment to the overall public health of the residents and the citizens of Indianapolis will require that we continue to think creatively about how to help our small business community,” he said.

Portions of Massachusetts Avenue, Broad Ripple Avenue, Georgia Street, South Monument Circle, and Illinois Street will be closed Friday, with crews beginning their work Wednesday. Dan Parker, director of the Department of Public Works, said the roads were chosen based on density, pedestrian traffic, transit lines, and the ability to manage traffic during the closures.

“The road closures that the mayor has mentioned represent the ability to create safe pedestrian corridors in our main dense commercial areas,” Parker said.

Restaurants looking to open dine-in services can apply for a permit on indy.gov/dineout. They can also submit their reopening plans where they can be reviewed to ensure restaurants are following social distancing guidelines.

Hogsett said pedestrians are encouraged to use the closed-off streets as sidewalks don’t offer proper space for social distancing. Because of this, restaurants will be able to extend seating to sidewalks.

As restaurants reopen, workers are encouraged to use personal protective equipment, including gloves and masks, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Because of the additional cost to businesses, Hogsett announced the start of a grant program to reimburse small businesses in the county for PPE.

In partnership with the Indy Chamber of Commerce, the RESTART Grant Program will provide up to $5,000 to businesses with fewer than 150 employees. Businesses can sign up to learn more about the RESTART Grant Program at response.indychamber.com/restart.

FOOTNOTE: Victoria Ratliff is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.