PUTNAM — Amanda Kelly has been named executive director of the Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center, now under construction in Putnam. Kelly was previously executive director of the Glastonbury Family YMCA.

“As we prepare to deliver programs and services to families of northeast Connecticut, Amanda will help us create a team with a shared passion for the Y’s mission to help people to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind and body. At the Y, we help communities learn, grow and thrive. We thank Amanda for her service in Glastonbury and look forward to the impact of the new Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center,” says Harold Sparrow, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Hartford.

“I am in awe of what this community has done to build this YMCA, and I am honored that I have been chosen as the first executive director I am looking forward to the grand opening of the Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center,” said Kelly.

Kelly holds a bachelor’s in human services from Springfield College. She lives with her husband and 2-year-old son in Sterling.

Construction of the Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center is on schedule for a late winter 2016 opening, but is dependent upon timely completion of the Town of Putnam’s Regional Tech Park infrastructure.  The Y anticipates inviting the community for hard hat tours in early 2016.

The Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center houses two swimming pools, which will be used for recreational and competitive swimming, as well as YMCA swimming and water safety instruction. The facility will host a state-of-the-art health and wellness center, gymnasium, group exercise studio/multi-purpose room, and teen center, kids and child watch rooms (babysitting while in the facility).

The Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center will serve residents from the towns of Putnam, Killingly, Eastford, Thompson, Brooklyn, Pomfret, Woodstock and Plainfield.