SARANAC LAKE — The Adirondack Land Trust’s plans to build new accessible trails on two preserves in the Tri-Lakes got a $3 million federal funding boost last week.

The funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission was announced on June 27 by Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, as part of a broader $7.5 million package that directed federal money to six organizations throughout six northern New York counties.

The ALT’s $3 million cash infusion will help fund two accessible trail system projects the nonprofit has been working to get off the ground: One at Glenview Preserve on state Route 86 in Harrietstown and another at an unnamed preserve off of Adirondack Loj Road in Lake Placid.

With this new federal grant, both projects are now about half-funded, according to ALT Director of Communications Connie Prickett. The total combined cost of the two projects is $4 million.

“This is the single largest grant in the Adirondack Land Trust’s history and speaks to the critical need for accessible wildland trails to broaden access to nature for underserved residents and visitors,” the nonprofit wrote in a statement last week. “We are deeply grateful to the commission for investing in the vitality of Adirondack communities.”

The ALT has $463,000 left to raise to pay for both projects, according to Prickett.

Glenview Preserve

At the 238-acre Glenview Preserve — known for its sweeping view of Whiteface and the McKenzie Mountain Range — the ALT plans to construct 2.25 miles of handicap accessible gravel trails with a spur trail leading to a natural overlook on the Bloomingdale Bog.

This is a change from the original conceptual plans, which included 3.4 miles of trails. Another change from the conceptual plans: Rather than constructing a 22-space parking lot, the ALT now plans to have a 16-space parking lot at Glenview, with three of those being paved handicap spots. The ALT also hopes to build a pavilion with a vegetated roof, an informational kiosk and bathrooms at the site.

The ALT was awarded a $100,000 grant by the state Department of Environmental Conservation in May to help fund its Glenview plans.

The ALT’s Glenview Preserve plans have faced some pushback, especially among neighbors of the land, who have criticized it as too much development or a traffic safety hazard. But the plan isn’t without its supporters — in an ALT survey and in letters to the editor in the Enterprise, people have expressed both passionate support and opposition for the project.

The project needs approvals from the town of Harrietstown, the Adirondack Park Agency and the state Department of Transportation before construction can begin.

The ALT hopes to break ground on the project next year.

Lake Placid property

The ALT expects to start work on its 187-acre Lake Placid property in 2026.

“Our planning in Lake Placid is not as far along as at Glenview but we anticipate at least 1.25 miles of accessible trail,” Prickett said Monday.

As of this past August, the ALT said that it planned to build an accessible trail network in the wooded area of the property, on the west branch of the AuSable River — ALT Executive Director Mike Carr said they’ll also likely build a parking lot, install signage and may need to build bridges.

In a question-and-answer list on its website, the ALT says that the nonprofit plans to “reach out to community members, including groups of people underrepresented in conservation initiatives, to gather input to inform a plan” after it identifies areas that are “most suitable for public access.”

The property does not yet have an official name. The ALT put out a survey to solicit ideas for names earlier this year.

“We just closed our community brainstorm survey and will review the 137 ideas submitted to find a distinctive, descriptive and memorable name,” Prickett said.

The land is a popular spot for photography and it’s not far from one of the most popular trailheads in the High Peaks region, managed by the Adirondack Mountain Club.