Neighborhood Group's Attempts to Stall Pacifics' Season Fail

A state appeals court on Wednesday denied a petition by a San Rafael neighborhood group to delay the scheduled June 4 start of the San Rafael Pacifics baseball season at Albert Park.

that the North American League team's season at Albert Park would not have a significant effect on the environment, as the alliance had claimed.

The alliance had asked the 1st District Court of Appeal for a stay to block games from starting pending a hearing on the appeal of Duryee's decision.

Steven Schoonover, the attorney for the neighborhood alliance, said the appeal of Duryee's ruling will go forward and may be heard by the end of the year.

"This is nothing against baseball," Schoonover said this morning.

He said the deed to the Albert Park property granted in 1937 restricts  commercial uses of the park for longer than a one-week period.

at Albert Park between June 4 and Aug. 26.

San Rafael City Attorney Rob Epstein said the Albert Park Neighborhood Alliance's petition for a stay alleged that the San Rafael Little League, city softball teams and the San Rafael Goldenaires' bingo events were being displaced by the baseball team.

Epstein said Little League baseball and softball teams' schedules are not affected by the Pacifics' schedule and that the Goldenaires rescheduled their June 4 bingo night at a nearby community center for June 11 when the Pacifics will be playing out of town.

Bay City News Service