The Saratoga City Council has now directed staff to look for more neighbors to include in the Kevin Moran Task Force Committee. The city will also look at other options for soccer players in the city, especially the campuses of West Valley College and other nearby schools in the area.

Staff has also been directed to research the history of the park. At the community meeting held on July 28, city officials were unsure if the park was a community or a neighborhood park. A neighborhood park would mean that it was primarily for people who live in the neighborhood. If Kevin Moran is considered a community park, however, the council could argue that installing soccer fields would benefit the entire community.

"We really listen to our neighbors, and we have listened to their concerns on the park," said Vice Mayor Kathleen King. "We have more homework to do." King said that city staff would look at the master plan of the park before deciding on its future.

The city bought the 10.3-acre park in 1970. In 2001, the park was included in the city's Capital Improvement Project and $400,000 was set aside for it. In May this year, the council members decided to hire a consultant so that they could look into redevelopment of the park, including two full-size soccer fields.

John Cherbone, city public works director, who faced a barrage of questions from neighbors at the community meeting, said the city had anticipated a lot of the questions that the residents had raised, but had not anticipated such a strong reaction from the general public.

Howard Miller, regional representative for the American Youth Soccer Organization, said the neighbors seemed to be reacting based on emotions. "I am still optimistic that in the whole process of improving the park, we can improve it for soccer, too," Miller said.

AYSO players already use the park for soccer practice. "It would have been nice if [building soccer fields] happened. But we are better off if we sort out the issues," Miller said.

Neil Newman, a resident of Scully Avenue, was delighted with the developments. "History will repeat itself. There will be no regulation field on Kevin Moran Park," Newman said.

He, like many others who live around the park, oppose development at the park.

"They can irrigate the orchard, prune the trees and keep the serene nature of the park," Newman said. "But we do not want restrooms, we do not want fresh parking. I believe the sentiment of the neighborhood is quite clear. I hope the city council respects the wishes of the neighborhood."

Sandy Cross lives directly across from the park, on Scully Avenue. She said she was concerned that if the plan for the soccer fields fell through, the funds set aside for the park may be reallocated. "I want to see the money used for the development of the park," Cross said.

She said she was extremely concerned that the city had started talking about soccer fields in the park without looking at traffic and safety issues.

"We are not going to stop because the plans have been put on hold. We are going to be very proactive about this," Cross said.