The CSU Bakersfield athletic department continues to build a strong bond with the Bakersfield community. On Saturday, student-athletes and coaches of the CSUB track and field and women's soccer teams joined forces with PG&E, the California Living Museum (CALM) and more community volunteers to build a playground from the from the ground up in northeast Bakersfield.

"There are more than 13,000 children that come to this zoo every year as well as the family free days and the playground was old, very outdated," said Katie Allen, PG&E spokesperson. "So we really thought what a fantastic opportunity to come and bring life to the playground equipment here and totally transform this area."

Volunteers put together each part from the slides to monkey bars. PG&E donated more than $85,000 for the playground construction. After two months of planning and taking down designs from local kids, the group put the entire project together in one day.

"It's a high level of organization and also just a high level of eagerness," said Josh Carlson, project manager for Kaboom. "It takes 200 cubic yards of mulch and eager volunteers willing to put in the work all day long to make this happen."

It happened with the help of employees of Kern County Superintendent of Schools, members of the CSUB women's soccer and men's and women's track and field teams and other local volunteers from the community. They rolled up their sleeves and got dirty and built the playground in one day.

"The CALM project was unique to our program because it was the opportunity for us to give back to the youth in this community in a way other than soccer," said CSUB head women's soccer coach Melissa Phillips. "Our team loves this community and especially the youth because so many come out to support us during the fall season."

Check out the photo gallery to see the CSUB student-athletes in action.

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