Members of the group say that they have collected hundreds of signatures of those who oppose the development of two full-size, regulation soccer fields at the park.

The council suspended the task force committee after the July meeting and directed the staff to find out more about the history of the park. The council also said that it would like to see more neighbors on the task force.

"Our aim is to reestablish a task force with more representation from the neighborhood," said Sandy Cross, a member of the Friends of Kevin Moran Park. "They would not be able to have a regulation-size soccer field here without tearing down the trees, and we do not want that."

Speaker after speaker at the July meeting had talked about preserving the integrity of the neighborhood. According to members of the group, many more have now come forward to sign the group's petition.

"Five years ago we went through the same process. Soccer fields were not allowed, and it remained a passive park," said Joann Piazza, who lives nearby. She said that a survey conducted then had indicated that most people wanted the park to remain the way it is now.

Kevin Moran Park is one of the last undeveloped parks in the Saratoga area.

The group points to Congress Springs Park as an example of what could happen to their park. They say that because a lot of soccer is played at that park, local residents have restricted access to the park.

"I fear that this area will be impacted in the same way, with the children and noise," said Cross.

"Personally, I feel that even if they could put grass on Saratoga Avenue, there still would not be places for all the soccer players," said Mary Robertson, another member of the same group.

Howard Miller, regional commissioner for the American Youth Soccer organization in the Saratoga area, feels that because the park has remained undeveloped, the issue of development comes up again and again.

"I want to talk to people," said Miller. "It would be great if we could meet and then present a joint front to the city council."

This being election season, Andy Barnes, who is running for city council, has already been in touch with members of the Friends group and listened to their concerns.

"We are not interested in making this into a political issue. We are just interested in preserving Kevin Moran Park," said Cross.

"We are interested in playing soccer; we are not a political action committee," said Miller.

But the politics of it is just starting.