Can I go to the beach? A guide to what you can and can't do in the Hammer under COVID-19

Not certain where you can go or what you can do?

Here's a quick list to keep you up-to-date on what you can and cannot do as the Hamilton area slowly reopens.

The City of Hamilton unveiled a road map" to opening the community safely and in step with the province of Ontario guidelines. Keep in mind that the pandemic is still here and Ontario currently remains in a state of emergency until June 30.

The Spectator will continue to update this information online as the situation changes in the coming weeks. Be sure to practise the six-foot physical-distancing rule, wash your hands, keep gatherings to five or less people, wear a mask and don't touch your face if you do go out.

IT'S OPEN:

Recreation, parks and trails:

• Hamilton's escarpment stairs are reopening on Friday, June 5. Be patient - it may take some time for city crews to get to all the locations to remove barriers.

• Tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball courts, BMX parks, skate parks, cycling tracks and bike trails, baseball diamonds and soccer fields are open. Hamilton sports fields can be used for passive use by families and small groups of five people or less who are physical distancing. No organized sports or team sports are permitted on any city sports fields or diamonds.

• Park benches and other park amenities are open for use. Spray pads, drinking fountains and playground structures are still closed.

• At the Bruce Trail, most of the trails are open as of June 2. Closed areas currently include most waterfalls, high-traffic tourism destinations, and some private properties. Some trails are closed. You can find a full list at brucetrail.org.

• Hamilton Conservation Authority trails are open, including: Christie Lake, Dundas Valley, Eramosa Karst, Fifty Point, Fletcher Creek, Valens Lake and Westfield Heritage Village. Rail trails through the Dundas Valley and in other parts of Flamborough are open.

• Hamilton's many trails are open, some of which include: Hamilton Waterfront Trail, The Breezeway Trail, Hamilton Harbour Waterfront Trail, Bayfront Park Trial, Cootes Drive Trail, Chedoke Radial Recreational Trail, Escarpment Rail Trail, Desjardins Recreational Trail, The Park Corridor along the LINC, Binbrook Tyneside trail and more.

• Golf courses are open.

• Dog parks are open.

• Marinas are open or are preparing to open. The boat launch at Bayfront Park is open. Check with your local marina for details.

Other entertainment/services:

• Royal Botanical Garden, Arboretum at 16 Old Guelph Rd., is open. The Hendrie Valley Sanctuary trails, trails on the south shore of Cootes Paradise and Rock Chapel Sanctuary/Berry Tract trails are open. Facilities, including washrooms, are closed.

• Royal Botanical Gardens will be opening all outdoor garden areas to the public beginning Friday, June 5. These areas include Hendrie Park, David Braley and Nancy Gordon Rock Garden, Laking Garden and the Arboretum. RBG Centre and the Rock Garden Visitor Centre will be open only to provide access to garden areas. Building amenities and indoor areas such as the Mediterranean Garden remain closed to the public. Garden hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular 2020 admission rates apply.

IT'S STILL CLOSED

Recreation, parks, trails, beaches, waterfalls:

• Spray pads, drinking fountains and playground structures in city parks are still closed.

• Hamilton waterfalls and escarpment areas are closed. Waterfalls include: Crooks Hollow, Spencer Gorge, Dundas Peak, Tews Falls, Webster Falls, Tiffany Falls, Devil's Punchbowl, Borer's Falls, and Spencer Adventure Trail.

• Public beaches are closed. These include any Hamilton beach including Confederation Beach Park, Burlington Beachway Park and Lake Erie beaches. Safe water quality monitoring by the province is cancelled until the beaches open.

• No organized sports or team sports are permitted on any city sports fields or diamonds. Programs will be cancelled for summer 2020.

Other entertainment/services:

• Stoney Creek's Starlite Drive-in is still closed. We are watching for updates.

• Hamilton-run summer recreational programming and all summer Camp Kidaca programs, as well as the usual Free Summer Supie.

• Hamilton's Wild Waterworks is closed for the season.

• Public libraries are closed. Online programs are being offered at hpl.ca.

• Burlington Public Library is closed but is set to open Central and Tansley branches on June 16 for pickups of reserved orders. Visit bpl.on.ca.

Hamilton Civic Museums are closed.

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is closed.

Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator in Hamilton. Reach her via email: jmoore@thespec.com