SAN RAMON, Calif. -- The discovery Tuesday afternoon of what appeared to be an old grenade in San Ramon caused the evacuation of surrounding homes and a school playground, the Police Department said.

Police said a crew working in San Ramon Creek near Pine Valley Road found the item and reported it around 1:15 p.m. Officials said the device seemed to be an old military rocket-propelled grenade.

As a precaution, police evacuated homes in the area as well as the playground at Walt Disney Elementary School.

Iron Horse Trail from Pine Valley Road to the San Ramon Gold Club was also closed until the device could be removed.

An explosive ordinance unit from Travis Air Force Base was able to remove the suspicious item, which was transported to a safe area and destroyed, police said.