GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — An Eid al-Adha event at a city-owned water park in Grand Prairie has been cancelled after Gov. Greg Abbott called it religious discrimination and threatened to pull state funding.
The 3rd annual Epic Eid event was scheduled for June 1 at Epic Waters Indoor Water Park. The event flyer markets a “respectful environment” with a private prayer area, exclusive access to the water park, halal meals and requires guests to dress modestly.
According to a report from WFAA, controversy sparked when the original event flyer described it as “Muslim only.” Event organizer Aminah Knight said she then changed it to “modest dress required.”
In a post on X Wednesday afternoon, Abbott called the event unconstitutional and said the city has until May 11 to cancel it and “commit to never allowing anything like it again” or lose $530,000 in state grants.
“Let this be a lesson to local officials: Facilities funded by ALL taxpayers are not just for a subset of Texans,” Abbott said.
On Tuesday, the City of Grand Prairie released the following statement:
“The City of Grand Prairie is aware of concerns that have been expressed about an upcoming private event at Epic Waters.
“The City has been in contact with the Epic Waters management team to ensure all policies and procedures have been followed.
“Epic Waters is owned by the City and managed by a third-party operator. Like other City-owned facilities, it is available for rental by individuals and organizations.”
In a statement on the Epic Eid website, Knight acknowledged the controversy surrounding the event and said “at its core,” the event is about “creating a space where individuals and families, particularly those who value modest dress and a modest environment, can come together and enjoy a recreational setting comfortably.”
“I will not allow something beautiful and well-intentioned to be turned into something that it is not,” Knight said.
According to WFAA, water park management informed Knight of the event’s cancellation Wednesday night.