Parish councillors at Chudleigh are to fight to ensure the Kate Brook sports ground stays for future generations.
The field, currently owned by the Clifford Estate, Chudleigh, is leased to the sports centre until 2012.
At Monday night's annual parish council meeting, each councillor was given a confidential letter which will be sent to the Clifford Estate.
The letter asked the director of the estate to confirm whether land at Kate Brook will be up for sale to the people of Chudleigh, when the lease expires in 2012.
The parish council wants to see the land used for recreational purposes.
Chairman Cllr Steve Evans said that Teignbridge Council would act on the parish council's behalf if it wished it to in helping it to buy the land.
He said: 'Teignbridge is our representative. There is no option to buy the land without a compulsory purchase order.'
District councillor Ray Frost tried to push councillors forward by saying that buying the land was what the public wanted.
Cllr Wendy Bishop agreed. She said that the council can afford to go through with it.
She said: 'When we own it, we can get grants. People want the land and we represent the people of Chudleigh.'
Referring to the land that the council wants to buy, Cllr Evans said: 'This is what the people of Chudleigh expect us to keep. I don't want them to think we are holding back.'
Cllr Frost said he would contact sporting associations to discuss how the land would be managed.
It would help to ensure 'a smooth transition', he said.
The letter will be sent to the Clifford Estate, and copies will also be sent to Teignbridge Council.