Ken Thoby of Wallkill hikes at Sam's Point last fall

GARDINER – Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Mohonk Preserve and Sam’s Point Preserve contribute $12.3 million to the local economy, according to a study released Tuesday.

Business Opportunities Management Consulting of Rensselaer conducted the study for the three attractions and found they have over 392,000 visitors among them who spend over $13 million annually and support 350 local jobs.

Annual local sales taxes from the three amount to $459,000.

Mohonk Executive Director Glenn Hoagland said the finding will come to good use.

“We will use it to help the communities around the ridge understand and appreciate, which we know they do, the importance of the tourism economy and the visitation to the ridge to show that we are both a clean and green type of activity in the Hudson River Valley, he said.

Cara Lee, director of the Nature Conservancy’s Shawangunk Ridge Program, said the preserves are an important part of the economic fabric of the region.

“I think when times are tough, as they are today, it’s really important to have this kind of information that underscores the value of open space to our local economy,” she said. “And, it’s important for our local officials to see the benefits of open space protection to our local economy.”

The three Gunks attractions are but a small portion of Ulster County’s tourism economic generator, said County Executive Michael Hein.

“We’re talking about a $474 million operation; it’s the largest part of Ulster County’s economy,” he said. “State parks and these types of operations are critical to drawing people to Ulster County.”

County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach said the Shawangunk Ridge park/preserves are “great examples of ‘clean and green’ contributors to the economy.”