Tempe, like other Valley cities, auctions off surplus property from old furniture to computers online.



There’s an unusual lot up for sale this month — pieces of the old Tempe Town Lake Dam.

tempe.gov Screen capture of City of Tempe's website on July 24, 2017. Whatever you imagine the old dam could become, you only have until August 8 to place a bid.

Giant rubber inflatable bladders contained the water of Tempe Town Lake until 2016.Now the old dam has been chopped up into pieces for auction.“It looks like a long piece of rubber ... it’s about an inch thick and very sturdy,” said Tempe spokeswoman Kris Baxter Ging.Except for when the inflatable dam infamously burst in 2010 and drained the lake.The city’s held on to the rubber since a new steel and concrete dam was installed a few years ago.Baxter-Ging said the city gave it to artists a few years ago and the pieces have been also been used more practically.“People have used it for lining garages so it’s a little bit softer on your feet, but sturdy enough for you to stand on,” Baxter-Ging said.Another proposed use? Cushioning the floor of horse stables.Whatever you imagine the old dam could become, you only have until August 8 to place a bid.The city is offering the rubber in 110 13' x 13' sheets and 130 40" x 40' rolls . Bids for individual pieces or the whole lot will be accepted.