In the latest twist in the Giuliani administration's quest to bring minor league baseball to New York, civic groups and politicians in Queens are vowing to sue to stop the city from building a $5 million ball field at St. John's University for a single-A team affiliated with the Mets.

The city had suddenly turned to the St. John's campus last month after its plan to build a temporary ballpark at the parade grounds near Prospect Park in Brooklyn ran into political opposition and a lawsuit. But civic groups in the Jamaica Estates neighborhood surrounding St. John's have been no more receptive to the team, which would be called Kings of Queens.

After a Thursday meeting of 250 residents that was called by four neighborhood groups to "stop the stadium," scores of people marched in protest to the St. John's ball field, where the stadium would be built. They said the proposed 3,500-seat ballpark would draw thousands of fans to a quiet neighborhood of single-family homes, worsening traffic and parking problems. The outdoor lighting and public address systems would also disrupt the community, they said.

"We're going to court," said State Senator Frank Padavan, a Republican who represents the area and lives there. "It's the only option left open to us. We tried to convince them that this was a mistake. That size stadium at that location will have a negative impact on the quality of life and on property values."

A spokesman for the city's Economic Development Corporation, Bruce Brodoff, declined to discuss the stadium deal. "At this point we are very close to finalizing an agreement with St. John's," he said. "We don't have any comment on the proposed lawsuit."

St. John's also declined to discuss the pending lawsuit. Joseph Sciame, a vice president at the school, said the Kings' ballpark would not be disruptive because there is adequate parking on campus and the college would be quieting down for the summer as the team's season started in June.

In an effort to mollify local critics, the Mets recently promised to provide tickets for local groups, to conduct baseball clinics and educational programs for young people and to allow local school teams to use the field. The St. John's baseball team, Red Storm, would also share the field. Finally, the Mets agreed to ban the sale of beer and limit the number of night games.

"I think that what we've proposed is most extensive community outreach program in all of minor league baseball," said David Howard, vice president and general counsel of the Mets. "We've worked to eliminate or minimize any adverse affects."

The Mets' minor league team, which was based in St. Catherines, Ontario, and affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays, plays a short season of 38 homes games a year. It would ultimately be housed at a new $35 million stadium in Coney Island, although that project also faces political battles and community opposition. On Staten Island, the city has been more successful, but at an extraordinary cost. The Giuliani administration plans to build a $71 million stadium for a Yankees affiliate next to the St. George ferry terminal, which would be the most expensive minor league stadium in the country.

Most economists question the wisdom of public investments in sports stadiums and arenas, but Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani has made them a centerpiece of his administration. He has proposed building a football stadium for the Jets in Manhattan, as well as new stadiums for both the Yankees and the Mets, at an estimated cost to taxpayers of more than $1.5 billion.

In any event, Mayor Giuliani's longstanding effort to bring professional baseball back to Brooklyn was not supposed to turn into a public relations quagmire for the Mets. "It's been a bit of a struggle," Mr. Howard acknowledged, "but we're optimistic we'll work it out."

The Brooklyn borough president, Howard Golden, has argued that the city and local businesses would benefit more from an independent minor league team that plays 70 games a year than a short-season team. He and the community board in Coney Island do not want to see the mayor's stadium wipe out the chance to build a long-planned amateur sports complex on the same site at Steeplechase Park.

After Mr. Golden blocked a plan to build a temporary stadium in Brooklyn, the Giuliani administration turned to St. John's.

Mr. Padavan said he was not opposed to the Mets, just the site.

Dr. Barry Weinberg, chairman of the Jamaica Estates Association, said a ballpark at St. John's would wreak havoc. He also questioned the city's decision to use public money to build a ballpark at a private institution.

"A commercial venture like this should never be put in the midst of a residential community," Dr. Weinberg said. "We were expendable to the Giuliani administration. But people here feel we must win for the survival of our community."