Stephen A. Lynch, who is challenging Selectman John E. Hall in the April 28 election, hopes to repeal the act, but says he supports the fields, calling them “one of the only useful recommendations I’ve ever heard’’ for spending money collected through the surcharge.

“I say give them every bit of money that’s in the fund, and then let’s get rid of the [Community Preservation Act] tax after that,’’ he said.

Hall, too, supports the fields. He said he has looked for a way to build new fields since he learned the full extent of the problem last year.

In 2011, Marshfield Youth Soccer urged the Board of Selectmen to approve an earth-removal permit for a gravel business that promised to donate two fields to the town after it finished excavating.

The board denied the permit, citing concerns that the operation could adversely affect air and water quality in a residential area.

But during the hearings, information came to light about the lack of fields and the maintenance needed on existing fields, Hall said.

The town will minimize costs by building the fields on public land, reusing grandstands from the old fields, and accepting some volunteer work from local contractors, he said.

Tom G. Whalen - chairman of the Community Preservation Committee, which voted to recommend the expenditure - said the parcel is more than 20 acres, of which about 16 will be disturbed for the fields. Eventually, the town will build a walking trail around the property, he said.

Whalen said he has seen no opposition to the plan. He said that the town has done extensive research on the issue and that as far back as 2010, the recreation director met with sports groups to determine what they need.

What they need is more fields, Whalen said, especially to compensate for those that will be lost during construction of the new high school.