The Tri-Lakes region has been awarded more than $650,000 in state grants for community-level projects, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday.

Those projects include building improvements at BluSeed Studios, the expansion of the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation and Historic Saranac Lake, design and redevelopment related to the Pendragon Theatre move, facade improvements in the village of Tupper Lake, winter recreation upgrades in the town of Tupper Lake, and design and construction of the AstroScience Center Museum and Planetarium at the Adirondack Sky Center.

The town of Keene was also awarded funding, $88,850, as was the Adirondack Mountain Club, $66,000. Both grant awards are geared toward improvements related to the hiker parking issues along state Route 73. The town of Keene plans to use the money to fund frontcountry steward salaries for three years, as well as updates to the town’s trails. ADK is slated to use its funding to improve parking and signage at Adirondak Loj.

The Essex County Cornell Cooperative Extension was awarded $99,624 to “increase the reach and effectiveness of Adirondack Harvest,” an organization that promotes local food sourcing.

The funding comes via the state’s Smart Growth program. As part of the latest cycle of Smart Growth grants, the state awarded a total of $2 million to projects throughout the Adirondack and Catskills parks. Adirondack communities received the lion’s share of that pot.

“The magnificent natural resources of the Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserves attract visitors and residents from around the world, and it is crucial that New York continues to invest in smart planning to ensure the environment and local economies are protected,” Cuomo said in a statement. “This round of smart growth grants will help support a broad range of initiatives designed to build stronger, more livable communities throughout the Adirondack and Catskill parks, and complement our ongoing efforts to make these regions world-class destinations.”

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Projects

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Projects and grant awards in the Adirondacks include:

¯ BluSeed Studios, Saranac Lake — $100,000 for expanding the view of BluSeed Studios, and building and site improvements;

¯ Pendragon Theatre, Saranac Lake — $100,000 for the theatre’s LEED integrative project planning, design process and green site redevelopment;

¯ Village of Tupper Lake — $100,000 for the Tupper Lake Hamlet Revitalization Facade Improvement Program;

¯ Town of Tupper Lake — $100,000 to enhance the winter recreation economy by implementing a town-wide winter recreation plan with targeted improvements to the outdoor winter recreation center;

¯ Town of Ticonderoga — $100,000 for building and site design related to the Ticonderoga 18th Century French Sawmill reconstruction;

¯ Fort Ticonderoga Association, Ticonderoga — $100,000 for accessibility features for Fort Ticonderoga National Historic Landmark 1826 Pavilion;

¯ Town of Webb — $100,000 for a public restroom in downtown Old Forge;

¯ Village of Speculator — $100,000 for the village of Speculator Historic Fire Tower Assembly Project;

¯ Essex County Industrial Development Agency — $100,000 for the town of Ticonderoga Main Street Revitalization and 2019 micro-enterprise grant program;

¯ Essex County Cornell Cooperative Extension — $99,624 to increase the reach and effectiveness of Adirondack Harvest;

¯ Town of Keene — $88,850 to upgrade the town’s trails and pay for frontcountry stewards’ salaries for three years;

¯ Adirondack Public Observatory, Tupper Lake — $75,000 to support the Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory’s design and construction of the AstroScience Center Museum and Planetarium;

¯ Town of Lake George — $75,000 toward the McPhillips Preserve at French Mountain;

¯ Hamilton County — $66,500 for Hamilton County Trails into Prosperity for an analysis of conditions of priority trails and planning for local capacity for management and sustainability of trails;

¯ Adirondack Mountain Club, Lake Placid — $66,000 for Heart Lake parking and signage improvements;

¯ Town of Caroga — $64,367 for Wheelerville mountain biking trails;

¯ Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, Saranac Lake — $50,000 for expanding the educational and retail presence of the Adirondack Loon Center;

¯ Historic Saranac Lake — $37,150 toward Historic Saranac Lake’s museum campus site plan;

¯ Adirondack Hamlets to Huts, Saranac Lake — $30,000 for interpretive displays and organizational development projects;

¯ Town of Chester — $30,000 for the Cunningham Community Forest Master Plan;

¯ Town of Westport — $18,660 for Westport Train Station / Depot Theatre accessibility improvements.