More Than the “Aquatics Guy”: Avery Bohon on Building Spaces That Bring Communities Together
How one superintendent’s passion for people and parks has helped shape Arizona’s most beloved spaces.
When you’ve spent over 20 years building recreation and aquatics facilities across the country, it’s easy to earn a nickname like “the aquatics guy.” But ask Avery Bohon, a project superintendent at Haydon, and he’ll tell you, he’s always been about more than pools.
“I started out in the construction industry doing multifamily and commercial buildings,” Avery said. “I had the chance to do the fieldhouse and recreation center for the University of Colorado, and I fell in love with it. It was fun and it was just not your typical building.”
That project lit a spark. Since then, Avery has helped bring to life dozens of public parks, rec centers, and aquatic facilities that now serve thousands of families. His passion? “Building fun for families and communities.”
Recreation Has Come a Long Way (And So Has Avery)
The parks and aquatics world looks very different than it did two decades ago. Simple playgrounds and basketball courts have transformed into full-scale community destinations, complete with tech-forward features and bold, imaginative design.
“Now we have facilities like this one here with lakes and playgrounds and every sports court and field that’s imaginable,” Avery said from the Queen Creek Recreation & Aquatic Center. “And the technology is coming into play with them more and more these days.”
He credits much of that transformation to the creative drive of designers and the communities they serve.
“The innovative designs that are coming from the design professionals for these are just astronomically greater than what they used to be in creating that fun for the families and the communities.”
Designing With the Community, Not Just for It
Today’s parks are shaped as much by residents as they are by architects and that shift toward authentic community involvement is one Avery embraces.
“Getting that authentic community‑centered design begins by inviting residents to shape ideas from the very start,” he said. “Skipping that step and presenting finished plans undermines true engagement.”
From early input meetings to public workshops, Avery sees firsthand how community collaboration leads to more inclusive, more used, and more loved public spaces.
Plans, People, and the Power of a Good Kickoff
Ask Avery what makes a park or aquatic facility project successful, and he’ll give you two keys: thoughtful logistics and strong relationships.
“It’s really creating relationships right out the gate from the word go,” he said. “When we get the projects and create the synergy of a team instead of having dull meetings, we’re creating creative workshops that are fun and everybody’s interacting and keeping people accountable and engaged through that process.”
Behind that collaboration is a serious commitment to planning, especially on large, complex builds like Queen Creek Rec & Aquatics.
“Building a successful project like Queen Creek… with as much going on all around us, the logistics is probably one of the biggest things to keep an eye on,” he said. “Being able to hone in early and come up with a good, solid plan that you’re going to follow throughout is one of the biggest key items for a successful construction.”
The Next Wave of Parks & Rec
Avery’s recently completed project, the Queen Creek Recreation & Aquatic Center, is one of the largest and most technologically advanced facilities of its kind in the Valley.
“This is a one-of-a-kind facility in the Valley here,” he said. “The technology that they’ve put into this facility was astronomical from all of the TVs, screens, and the audio-visual everywhere to the aquatic center itself.”
From water slides and a lazy river to event-ready spaces and high-performance systems, it’s built to serve the community from every angle.
Built to Last and Built to Serve
Avery’s leadership isn’t just about construction. It’s about delivering long-term value to the communities who rely on these spaces.
“I’ve tackled every challenge this industry throws at you,” he said. “By keeping crews aligned on objectives from day one, we hit our targets and hand over projects that perform reliably and genuinely serve the communities they’re built for.”
Whether he’s wearing the title of superintendent, mentor, or yes – even “aquatics guy” – Avery’s passion is clear: thoughtfully built, people-centered spaces that bring communities together, one splash, slide, and soccer field at a time.
