"The neighbors didn't like how the task force was made up and the agenda wasn't clear," Mayor Kathleen King said.

John Cherbone, Saratoga's director of public works, sent out a letter dated Sept. 14 stating that the upcoming meeting would consider a report on the Kevin Moran Park and provide direction regarding composition of the Kevin Moran Park task force and the planning process for the park. The city council will also be considering a report regarding citywide sport field use.

King said that opposition to the proposed soccer fields from neighbors has led to research to determine if fields in the city are being used well and if any can provide an alternative to expanding the fields at Kevin Moran Park.

A conflict has been brewing for some time between neighbors of the park who do not want to see it developed for more soccer use and people who see the park as providing the regulation soccer fields kids need for practice.

Mary Robertson has been a vocal opponent of new soccer fields at Kevin Moran Park since first hearing about them. "This is a neighborhood park," she said. "It's always been a neighborhood park. There's already soccer in the park and it hasn't been a problem. Money from this city is being infused into soccer. We are not happy with the fact that every park in the city has to be made to accommodate soccer."

Howard Miller, regional commissioner for the American Youth Soccer Organization, said that misinformation about the proposed soccer fields is responsible for much of the opposition. "We have proposed nothing that will change usage at the park," he said. Traffic and noise will not change, only the age of the children practicing on the field, he said. "The problem in this situation is that the city has failed to create a forum where neighbors and user groups can have a dialogue to discuss their needs and concerns," he said. "There's never been a chance to sit down and list the needs and the concerns. There's never been a dialogue."

Robertson said a great deal of anger has arisen due to the council's desire to push forward with the park in the face of opposition from neighbors.