Leanne Powell, executive director of the Parks and Recreation Association for Utah, told the Lindon City Council that Linden City’s parks and recreation leader, Heath Bateman, earned the Certified Parks and Recreation Executive (CPRE) credential from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Powell said Bateman is the eighth person in Utah to hold the CPRE, and that fewer than 400 professionals hold the credential nationally.

Powell used the presentation to outline three pillars of parks and recreation work — health and wellness, inclusive recreation and land conservation — and to highlight Lindon’s regional role in convening partners. She described a recent countywide effort to expand adaptive recreation: a Pleasant Grove resident contacted Megan Zollinger, and within about six months communities in roughly 10 cities coordinated to offer adaptive basketball, soccer and other programs across participating jurisdictions.

Council speakers and staff framed Bateman’s credential as recognition of local leadership and coalition-building. A council speaker recited city park statistics during remarks, saying Lindon covers about 8.5 square miles and has roughly 62 acres of mowed grass, 10.8 miles of shared-use paths and about 6 miles of trails.

Powell said the CPRE designation recognizes demonstrated leadership and professional management; she asked that Lindon continue to highlight Bateman’s and the department’s statewide and national contributions. No policy changes, ordinance proposals or budget actions were made during the presentation.

The presentation positioned Lindon’s parks work as a model for small cities building inclusive, sustainable recreation and cross-jurisdictional collaborations.