CEDAR FALLS - A thick layer of mud covers much of the lower playground equipment at North Cedar Elementary School.

The pea gravel and wood chip surfacing has mostly washed away. The turf on the field is already losing its lush green color, and the young trees have been sapped of their will to live.

But Rick Gersema, supervisor of buildings and grounds for the Cedar Falls Community School District, counts the district among the lucky ones living and working in North Cedar. Water from the Cedar River inundated the North Cedar Elementary playground but stopped short of entering the building itself.

"We are very fortunate," Gersema said. "I'm guessing the depth on the field was probably 10 feet deep. I have no idea why it didn't come in the building, except for the fact that the building is on the slope, so the foundation comes up a little ways and the water wasn't able to get into those vulnerable areas, like unit vents."

The district had been prepared for much worse. On June 10 Gersema and other school employees gathered at North Cedar about 8 a.m. to move furniture and books in the lower level to higher ground. By noon Gersema had instructed everyone to leave for fear that the city would close off all access to the neighborhood. By that time water was already lapping at the building's edge.

On June 11 a school employee made a cursory check of the building and gave Gersema the all clear.

But it wasn't until one of this own workers could inspect the school that Gersema felt safe in knowing the building had not been breached. The only water to be found was in a tunnel underneath the school that houses pipes and electrical lines. About three inches accumulated there, but Gersema said a small sump pump was enough to dry the area out.

Superintendent David Stoakes said the district had also prepared for the worst at the new Lincoln Elementary, putting furniture and books on higher ground and bags of water softener salt on floor drains to keep any sewage backup out of the school.

"Losing six classrooms at North Cedar would have been a difficult situation, but it is nothing like what Waverly is facing," Stoakes said.

The district has already begun the clean-up process, removing debris from the playground as the water is slowly pumped out. From there, Gersema said they will focus their efforts on the hard surfaces, like basketball courts, and the playground equipment. The grassy areas won't get reseeded until later this fall.

It is still too early to know just how much the playground clean-up will cost, but the Cedar Falls Lions Club has already agreed to donate proceeds from Sunday's Sturgis Falls Pancake Breakfast to the project. The breakfast runs from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cedar Falls Community Center, Sixth and Main streets Cedar Falls.

Contact Emily Christensen at (319) 291-1570 or emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.