Almost a year ago, the Dallas County Commission assumed control of Paul Grist State Park with the exception of Camp Grist.

But that changed Wednesday when the commission agreed to accept control of the camp from the YMCA of Selma-Dallas County.

“It’s a really, really good thing to take the Grist Camp and include it in the county lease,” said Ray Thomas, chief volunteer officer for the YMCA board.

“The county has more opportunity I think to provide a wider diversity of activity and recreational activities for the park. There is just a fantastic group of volunteers that are helping to improve the park now, and they will hopefully do the same thing for Camp Grist,” Thomas said.

The lease was assigned to the commission by the Alabama State Parks Division, giving the commission full control of the park.

County attorney John Kelly said the lease, which won’t cost the county anything, requires the county to restore the camp buildings, which includes a main lodge, gymnasium, mess hall, dormitories and other buildings.

“There is an obligation to maintain and restore the camp buildings. That’s where the kids used to spend the weekends and things like that,” Kelly said. “This lease actually requires that you restore them. The department can come in and inspect. The only real downside is if you don’t restore them, they can terminate the lease.”

Dallas County Probate Judge and Commission Chairman Kim Ballard said the camp is a 9-acre section of the park, and the county is excited to take control of it.

“I’m glad it worked out,” Ballard said Friday. “It’s a done deal.”

Ballard said there is no time limit on when the county has to have the buildings restored.

“Two of the buildings are pretty well restored,” Ballard said, adding that one may need to be torn down because of the shape it’s in.

Thomas said he is excited about what the county will be able to do with the camp.

“We’re really happy about it. We know that there’s a lot of sentiment around it,” Thomas said. “It has such great potential for the camp to offer new opportunities for people that use the park.”

Ballard said the county wants to use the camp for children’s activities.

“The goal of the newly acquired part is aimed at children, Boy Scouts and church groups,” Ballard said. “There are so many things up there for kids to do.”

The park is kept up by a group of volunteers called Friends of Paul M. Grist State Park.

Commissioner Roy Moore, whose district includes the park, said the volunteers have done tremendous work since the county took it over last December.

“We wondered about the volunteers when we went into this thing because it takes a lot of volunteers and a lot of work,” Moore said during Wednesday’s commission meeting. “And so far, they have exceeded my expectations of what they said they would do up there.”

Moore said he has had discussions with people about applying for grants to help restore some of the buildings and getting the camp back in good shape.