On September 24th 2016, just two days after the official start of fall, members of the community-based Colorado nonprofit group Leadership Evergreen will attempt to smash the Guinness world record for the longest park picnic table. As it stands, the record was set recently by the German-based company, Arla Foods on July 10th, 2016 when their employees constructed an outdoor picnic table that measured a whopping 694 feet and 11.35 inches. At the length of two soccer fields, this Muenster-sized table required over 6,035 feet in wood and 5,000 screws. In an effort to take the title, Colorado’s fearless cohort of volunteers and donors aim to surpass their German competitors—and hopefully with some room to spare.
Current World Record Longest Picnic Table
Münster, Germany
July 10th, 2016
The building process and subsequent unveiling will take place at Buchanan Park, located within the town limits of Evergreen, CO, where food, fun and celebration will ensue. Until then, however, the 2015 graduating class of Leadership Evergreen has their hands full laying tabletop planks and attaching crosspieces to ensure the same safety and stability of commercial picnic tables. While drills whirl and hammers swing, one question remains:
Why spare the time and resources?
While Leadership Evergreen has not made a specific statement as to the eventual use of the finished project, it’s clear that their commitment to community building remains at the heart of their Guinness World Record initiative. Aside from putting a small town on the map, this grand gesture will undoubtedly bring Evergreen residents closer to each other—and to the stunning foothills of their surrounding landscape.
All of this seems to align beautifully with the nonprofit’s mission to “broaden community awareness, strengthen leadership and team-building skills and to engage our graduates as proactive community participants” (LeadershipEvergreen.org). In other words, this record is just as much about the process as it is about the eventual glory of bringing a very specific accomplishment to U.S. soil.
As for what will become of the world’s new longest park picnic table, it’s doubtful that park officials will leave it in place after the inaugural community meal, due to its central location across the park’s otherwise functional sports fields. Depending upon the method of construction, the massive woodworking project may be well suited to giving back to the community in another way: by cutting it down to provide new school picnic tables to local students. Regardless of its ultimate purpose, this ambitious undertaking sets a new precedent for community empowerment and local initiative building.
Given the fast pace at which the last record was overcome, it’s unclear how long this small town in Colorado will hold the coveted title. Before Germany, the record for the longest picnic table was achieved in Kuwait on March 11th, 2016—a mere four months before Alta Food’s successful attempt in Muenster. Despite this quick turnover, one thing remains clear: for a small town in Colorado, the effects of this experience will far outlast the pomp and circumstance of any official title.
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