Although the Communities in Bloom competition won't be taking place this year, the Carman-Dufferin CIB committee is still keeping busy.

One of the main ideas the committee has been throwing around is pocket parks.

"It's a relatively new idea that we learned about in Steinbach," says Co-chair Susan Mooney. "The concept is small parks put on land owned by the town or city, these pockets of lands are sometimes on a boulevard or the end of a lot and not used. You can develop this little area of land with a bench, shrub, or tree for shade and enhances the area."

Mooney adds these parks can be in a neighbourhood, the end of a boulevard, or already established parks.

Co-Chair Judy McGregor has asked Carman Council if they would waive property taxes on pocket parks established on private property, do all maintenance, and pay for the water costs for any pocket parks.

The committee has two pocket park projects to complete this year. Carman Council says the town would support the establishment of pocket parks on private property but could not take responsibility for upkeep, taxes, or water.

However, establishing parks and beautifying a community, with one of the pillars of CIB being environmental action. The CIB committee and Keepers of the Boyne committee are making efforts to create a boat launch in the Boyne River.

Mooney says the organization saw great potential in the water body, believing it to be an excellent place for kayaking or canoeing in the summertime and fits in the environmental pillar.

"CIB is like an umbrella, and you can have all these other groups and organizations that can come in under CIB. They can bring to the table their ideas, visions, and we can work together."

The KOB committee feels a 12-foot dock is required for people to get their boats and kayaks into the Boyne River.

Regardless of which project CIB is working on, resident involvement is critical, says Mooney. It's more than making the town and area visibly pleasing, but working on projects together and strengthening community closeness.