Teamwork Brings Blake School Playground Back to Life

What began as a routine summer facility walkthrough quickly revealed a significant need at Blake School. Located in the rural mountain community of Woody, Calif., Blake School District serves a small, close-knit population where the school is at the heart of the community. During the scheduled visit, staff conducted a general assessment of the campus to ensure everything was in good condition. As they walked the grounds, they identified several areas requiring attention — including the school’s aging playground.

For years, the playground sat on a sand base — a surface that proved especially challenging in its rural environment. Wild animals frequently dug through the sand and left waste behind, while sand bugs began nesting. After storms, puddles and deep holes formed, making the area unsafe for children.

The sand caused additional problems. In direct sunlight, it became scorching hot and easily tracked into students’ shoes, clothes, and even classrooms. Over time, the combination of sand, rainwater and clay-heavy soil beneath the surface hardened into a cement-like layer that was unforgiving and painful when children fell.

School leaders knew something had to change.

“We want this school to feel special — a place students want to be, not somewhere they feel pushed to the side,” said teacher Lauren Palmbach. “The focus is always on the quality of our students’ experiences.”

While the need was clear, finding a solution proved difficult.

Blake staff initially looked to Williams Elementary within Bakersfield City School District for inspiration, admiring its rubberized “Pour and Place” surface commonly used at preschools for safety and durability. However, installing that type of surface across Blake’s large playground area was financially unrealistic.

Logistics presented another major hurdle. Blake’s remote, mountainous location made it difficult to find vendors willing to deliver materials. The original plan required pouring a concrete border to support a rubber surface installation, but contractors from Bakersfield, Porterville, and Tulare were either unwilling or unable to take on the job.

That’s when KCSOS stepped in to lend a hand. Working alongside Blake School leadership, the team helped identify a practical path forward that balanced safety, durability, and cost.

The decision ultimately shifted to a more cost-effective, lower-maintenance solution — installing playground borders and Sof’Fall surfacing. The engineered wood fiber is designed to provide safe cushioning while requiring far less upkeep than sand.

The project was far from easy. Over several months, storms and heavy fog repeatedly slowed progress and made transporting materials along the winding mountain roads unsafe.

When conditions finally improved, the KCSOS Maintenance and Operations team made the trek to Woody to complete the work — ultimately becoming the only group able to carry the project across the finish line.

“It was a huge help having KCSOS step in and get this project done. We couldn’t do it on our own, and they understood exactly what we needed,” said acting Superintendent Mary Westendorf. “We are so appreciative of their efforts — they really had a heart for this school.”

Josh Cheshier, Manager of Maintenance and Operations, oversaw the effort and says projects like this are especially meaningful for his team.

“Every member brought unique ideas that came together to create the bigger picture. When we ran into challenges, someone would say, ‘Let’s try this,’ and we’d build off each other’s ideas,” he said. 

Once the new surface was installed, attention turned to the old sand. Instead of hauling it to a landfill, the school repurposed some to level uneven ground and create a designated sandbox area. The remaining sand was donated to community members for livestock stalls and arenas — a reflection of the resourcefulness that defines the mountain community.

While on site, the KCSOS team also completed additional campus improvements, replacing aging ceiling tiles, rebuilding damaged stairs, and installing new doors to address other facility needs.

For many of the KCSOS employees, the trip to Blake School was their first visit to Woody. The scenic drive left a lasting impression, with team members spotting coyotes, wild boar, and even a bald eagle, while historic markers along the route highlighted the town’s past and the nearby sulfur quarry.

One of the most memorable parts of the project, however, was interacting with the students.

“It was exciting to see the kids’ reactions while we were working,” said KCSOS Grounds Worker Orlando Marcial. “They didn’t know who we were at first, but they were clearly excited to see us. It’s great to know they’ll use this for years to come.”

Although a few students were initially sad to see the old playground change, it didn’t take long for excitement to take over.

“When we fell off the playground, it used to hurt a lot — but not anymore!” one student shared.

“I like the wood chips much better,” another added. “The sand was so messy and got all over my pants and shoes like glitter. This is so much easier to brush off.”

For Ryan Knapp, Senior Director of Maintenance and Operations, projects like this go beyond improving facilities. He hopes the project serves as a model for supporting other rural schools in the future — ensuring that no matter how remote the location, students have safe and welcoming spaces to learn, grow and play.

“We want to make sure that kids — wherever they’re at — have a place to get outside and get some fresh air in a clean, safe environment,” Knapp said. “We’re proud to provide that, and we look forward to evaluating requests from other districts. No matter their size or location, we’re committed to helping wherever we can.”