Opponents of a proposed Can-Am League ballpark in Ramapo, N.Y. have informed interested parties — potential lenders, title-insurance companies and the city — that they intend to file suit opposing the funding plan for the new facility currently being pursued by the town’s economic-development agency.
The group, Preserve Ramapo, argued that the transfer of 61 acres from the city to the Ramapo Local Development Corp. would be illegal because it did not receive state approval, was improperly approved by the city because the head of Ramapo Local Development Corp. cast the deciding vote in favor of the transaction, and was an unconstitutional transfer of land.
The city had bought the ballpark site in anticipation of building the ballpark using Ramapo-backed bonds, but that proposal was shot down by voters in a fall referendum. City officials then decided to use the quasi-public development agency to back and build the ballpark. Under the new plan, the land will be used as collateral for loans on ballpark construction costs; officials with the agency say they’re close to obtaining funding to build part of the ballpark.
The filing of a lawsuit will certainly delay any work on the ballpark, thus bringing into question whether the Rockland Boulders will be able to field a team for the 2011 as originally planned.
RELATED STORIES: Ramapo ballpark moves forward; lawsuit threatened; Meanwhile, in the Can-Am League….; After voter rebuke of public funding, Ramapo looks to private sector; Consultant: New Ramapo ballpark has good chance of turning profit; Ownership emerges for Ramapo Can-Am team; Citizens seek public vote on new Ramapo ballpark; Miles Wolff: Can-Am Association eager for Ramapo team; New ballpark pitched in Ramapo for Can-Am team
Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us at editors@augustpublications.com.
Subscribers to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter see features before they’re posted to the site. You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.
Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!