The Todd Community Preservation Organization’s (TCPO) mission is to support many needs and activities in the Todd community. For over 20 years, a major function of the TCPO has been to maintain outdoor spaces for public use and private special occasions, these include Cook Park and Todd Island Park.
We are heartbroken to see the incredible damage to both parks from Hurricane Helene. They are no longer accessible and covered in debris and mud. Almost all structures and supplies were destroyed. We are asking for your help. To donate to the restoration, please go here.
Cook Memorial Park
Before Helene
After Helene
The park is located in downtown Todd and served as the main outdoor gathering space for the town. The covered stage, dance platform, covered pavillion and storage unit were used for concerts, picnics, revivals, weddings and other events. After Helene, the stage has moved to the adjacent lot and cannot be salvaged. The storage shed floated down the river and most of the contents (grill, tents, some music equipment, signage, cooking supplies, chairs and tables) are a total loss. The entire park is covered in inches of mud.
The plan for Cook Park is to work with a landscape and other architects to redesign the park for better drainage, returf the surface, rebuild the stage and repurchase supplies before the 2025 concert season. The TCPO believes that restoring this park in downtown Todd is extremely important for community and visitor morale and enjoyment. If you would like to help bring back the music, please go here.
Todd Island Park
Before Helene
After Helene
The 10-acre park is located in the South Fork of the New River, about 3 miles east of downtown. There was a walking bridge to the island which has a one-mile walking track around the perimeter. The river around the island park, part of the Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Program, was a main fishing destination for the area and is stocked with brook, brown and rainbow trout on a regular basis. Families came to play in the water and sunbathe in nice weather.
The plan to restore Todd Island Park is to work with structural engineers, river restoration specialists and others to replace the walking bridge and create access to the island for large equipment needed to clean up huge debris, repair fencing and repair any damaged riverbanks. The parking lot will need to be cleaned up, repaired and resurfaced. This is a large and expensive undertaking and we don’t have a timeline yet. If you would like to support our efforts, please go here.
Recognition and Designations
The TCPO works continuously to secure recognition and designations for Todd based on its rich natural resources and history. The majority of buildings in downtown Todd are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Todd’s summer music series is part of the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina. Parts of the New River in Todd are included in the NC Public Mountain Trout Waters program and the river around Todd Island Park was recently designated as NC Mountain Heritage Trout Waters. Designations like these help preserve Todd’s heritage and improve its infrastructure for the enjoyment of all.