The town has a beer brand named after it and its own brewery and pub, but it currently illegal to drink a beer or a glass of wine, for that matter, in public in Abita Springs.

That’s about to change. The Board of Aldermen introduced an ordinance Tuesday evening that, if passed, would allow people to leave an establishment without first pouring out their drink.

The proposed ordinance allows people to walk around in public with an alcoholic beverage in the town’s historic district as long as the beverage is in a to-go cup. Mayor Louis Fitzmorris said this would allow people to bring their drinks they purchased at the Brew Pub or Rosie’s outside to enjoy the music being provided at the new Trailhead if they wish.

He said the weekend music offerings at the Trailhead have been a big hit, adding that the Smithsonian exhibit turned out to be a great kick-off for the new museum.

According to Fitzmorris, approximately 2,000 people have signed the guest registry since the museum opened. But, if you want to see the Smithsonian exhibit before it is packed up and brought to its next stop in Ruston, you need to hurry. Saturday is the last day it will be on display.

Work continues on the other improvements to the park area.

Off-site work on the water feature is nearing completion, and Alderman Pat Patterson reported that a crew would be in town within the next two weeks to being installing the feature, which will consist of waterspouts similar to those at the Mandeville Trailhead but much larger. It will also include lights. The feature can be programmed and choreographed to music. It is estimated to take seven days to install the feature.

The Friends of the Park will construct its playground in the park June 24-29. The first couple of days will only be for skilled laborers, but volunteers are needed for June 28 and 29. The group needs at least 260 people each day to put up the playground. For more information, see the groups Web site, abitafriendsofthepark.org.

Work on sidewalks allow Main Street, Level Street and Louisiana Highway 36 from the Trace to C.J. Finn Ballpark is set to begin next week, and the town is working the secure funding to install landscaping and lighting at the traffic circle.

In other business Tuesday:

• Town Clerk Donna Kilpatrick updated the board on the status of the FEMA trailers still on property in the town. She said there are still seven FEMA trailers in the town. The owners have been contacted twice. She said the property owners have to contact FEMA to have the trailers removed or they will be in violation of the town’s ordinance governing travel trailers. The property owners have been given until June 1 to contact FEMA and request the trailers be removed. After June 1, Fitzmorris said the town could begin fining them up to $500 per day.

• The town is looking into establishing a cultural district, which provides tax incentives for the sale of original art and the restoration of older buildings inside the district.

• The land located 150 feet back along Louisiana Highway 59 west of town, commonly referred to as Rangeline Road, was rezoned Tuesday evening from residential to residential/commercial overlay. This would allow commercial businesses that operate only during daytime hours and will provide a buffer between the commercial in the center of town and the residential areas leading out of town. The board also introduced an ordinance that, if approved, would allow bed and breakfasts in residentially zoned areas. They are currently allowed in every other zoning.

•The board revoked a portion of Cahill Road between Haynes Road and Louisiana Highway 59. A home sits on this portion of roadway and the property owner requested the road be revoked.

• The board gave Fitzmorris permission to sign an agreement with the parish needed to receive the $92,000 in Community Development Block Grants it has been obligated by the federal government. Fitzmorris said this is just one small step in a long process that he anticipates will take up to two years.