EAST PROVIDENCE — The council at its Tuesday night, March 3, meeting, unanimously approved a recommendation by the office of Mayor Bob DaSilva and gave it the authority to hire a contractor for renovations to the Pierce Field basketball courts.

The low bid of $217,705.15 was submitted by Hartford Paving, a company that according to the proposal has experience working on outdoor sport facilities and has worked in city previously on the Warren Avenue Streetscape project.

The original amount approved for the project by the council was $250,000. The balance of the monies if not spent would revert back to the city’s Capital Improvement Fund.

Department of Public Works Director Steve Coutu told the council prior to the vote the bid “number is very good. It’s a good time to award this project. They’re eager to get going.”

He added the anticipated completion date is early July, which still suits the needs of the East Providence Mohawks summer basketball league. The “robust” Mohawks hoops program, as Mr. Coutu put it, will be among the primary users of the enhanced facility.

Mr. Coutu noted the bid includes all site preparation/demolition, the paving of the new courts and the installation of sports surfacing/painting, new posts and backboards and a 10-foot high fence surround.

Mr. Coutu said the price does not include new bleachers or scoreboards. Those and other accessories could be added later. He said the existing bleachers for fans remain in “good shape.” The only outstanding element to be decided is whether to string netting between the basketball courts and adjacent baseball diamond.