Cook County Forest Preserve Selling Used Wooden Picnic Tables On eBay

Chicago, IL (AHN) - Thousands of used picnic tables are up for sale on eBay by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County for $15 to the general public or $10 to non-profit organizations.

All wooden picnic tables are being sold in 'as-is' condition. The tables cost $300 new and are being replaced by cheaper, heavier, harder to vandalize models.

"The District, which has phased in a new style of picnic table throughout the County over the past three years, is selling all of it's older, all-wood picnic tables on the popular auction site Ebay in an effort to completely sell off its older inventory," Forest Preserve officials said in a statement posted on its website.

"The new tables are cheaper to purchase by more than $100, heavier (therefore harder for vandals to steal), more attractive, easier to maintain and more weather resistant," District officials added.

Although the whole thing might seem odd, it is apparently part of Cook County Forest Preserve District leader's larger plan to manage everything without a tax increase.

Last Wednesday, officials rolled out a proposed $194 million Forest Preserve District budget that would increase spending by $17 million relying on dipping into reserve capital and land acquisition funds that weren't spent in previous years.

Although no mention was made of funds from the eBay sales of the old picnic tables, Forest Preserve officials said they would also tap funds provided by foundations that back the Brookfield Zoo and Chicago Botanic Garden.

They are also looking for a concessionaire who will bring in winter activities such as ice skating, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing at five locations to supplement revenue from selling picnic permits.

Although the Forest Preserve is selling its picnic tables online, buyers need to be able to pick their purchase up at one of three locations, the District said in its statement that it "will not, under any circumstances, haul any tables for any buyer."