{"id":286683,"date":"2026-05-10T08:51:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T08:51:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/286683\/"},"modified":"2026-05-10T08:51:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T08:51:34","slug":"muslim-only-event-at-texas-water-park-canceled-after-abbott-threatens-to-pull-530k-in-state-grants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/286683\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Muslim only\u2019 event at Texas water park canceled after Abbott threatens to pull $530K in state grants"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A &#8220;Muslim only&#8221; event at a taxpayer-funded Texas water park has been canceled following criticism and threats by Gov. Greg Abbott to pull public safety grants.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A local Islamic group had rented out the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/texas-gov-abbott-declares-cair-muslim-brotherhood-terrorist-groups-preventing-land-purchases\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark<\/a> in Grand Prairie for its annual Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) &#8220;Epic Eid&#8221; celebration on June 1.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Representatives for both the water park and the city of Grand Prairie sent the following statement to Fox News Digital on Wednesday evening confirming the event is canceled:<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;After further review and in the best interest of the City of Grand Prairie, the June 1 EID event at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark has been canceled.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/muslim-groups-other-leaders-demand-abbott-rescind-cairs-terrorist-designation-defamatory\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Muslim Groups, Other Leaders Demand Abbott Rescind Cair&#039;s \u2018Terrorist\u2019 Designation: &#039;Defamatory&#039;;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Muslim Groups, Other Leaders Demand Abbott Rescind Cair&#039;&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Muslim Groups, Other Leaders Demand Abbott Rescind Cair&#8217;s \u2018Terrorist\u2019 Designation: &#8216;Defamatory&#8217;<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"The Epic Waters in Grand Prairie, Texas.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/b4378b47163140b05e322e5d0d3a5748.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A previously advertised &#8220;Muslims only&#8221; event at Epic Waters in Grand Prairie, Texas, was changed to welcome all after backlash over the religious admission policy.<\/p>\n<p>(Fox News)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A flier for the event originally stated that the gathering was a &#8220;Muslim only event&#8221; that required a &#8220;modest dress code.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS\/mvaj7wvj\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Read On The Fox News App;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Read On The Fox News App&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Read On The Fox News App<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The group later <a href=\"https:\/\/dfwepiceid.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:updated the poster;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;updated the poster&quot;}\" class=\"link \">updated the poster<\/a> by removing the phrase &#8220;Muslim only event,&#8221; replacing it with &#8220;Modest dress only,&#8221; and changed &#8220;For Muslims only&#8221; to &#8220;All are welcome.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Amid the backlash, the organizer of the event, Aminah Knight, said the event was about &#8220;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.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"A flier for the DFW EID event.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/84ad8750515390bee0576f1315f89660.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The initial flier for the event noted that it was &#8220;For Muslims only&#8221; before being changed to &#8220;All are welcome.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;In response to feedback, we have updated our materials to clearly reflect that this is a modest dress-only event, centered around a respectful and family-friendly environment,&#8221; she wrote in a message on the event website.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The event was going to be the third held at Epic Waters, a city-owned <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/travel\/general\/theme-parks\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:water park;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;water park&quot;}\" class=\"link \">water park<\/a> funded in part by a voter-approved 0.25% sales tax in the DFW suburb of Grand Prairie.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Initially, the event advertised halal food and a private prayer area &#8220;for Muslims only.&#8221; Women were required to dress in &#8220;burkinis,&#8221; and men were required to wear swim trunks and shirts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/muslim-civil-rights-group-cair-sues-texas-over-abbotts-terrorist-designation\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Muslim Civil Rights Group Cair Sues Texas Over Abbott&#039;s \u2018Terrorist\u2019 Designation;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Muslim Civil Rights Group Cair Sues Texas Over Abbott&#039;&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Muslim Civil Rights Group Cair Sues Texas Over Abbott&#8217;s \u2018Terrorist\u2019 Designation<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Although men and women would not have been separated, the event website stated that guests should uphold &#8220;Islamic etiquette,&#8221; just as they do in other mixed-gender spaces.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Abbott blasted the event, calling the initial &#8220;Muslim only&#8221; policy &#8220;unconstitutional&#8221; and &#8220;religious discrimination.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Images of women in full bathing suits.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/f0cd05118d45e64ecba8b0b8c284a507.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The event website included images of what women attending should wear to comply with Islamic standards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I signed HB 4211 into law \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/gop-governor-lays-out-plan-purge-terrorists-terror-supporters-from-state\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:banning Muslim-only no-go zones;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;banning Muslim-only no-go zones&quot;}\" class=\"link \">banning Muslim-only no-go zones<\/a> in Texas,&#8221; he wrote on X. &#8220;The City must cancel the event and commit to never allowing something like it again by May 11th, 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.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Click Here To Download The Fox News App;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Click Here To Download The Fox News App&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Click Here To Download The Fox News App<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In a letter to Grand Prairie Mayor Ron Jensen, Abbott noted that his Public Safety Office has five active grants with the city and that city leaders agreed to comply with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/judiciary\/state-and-local\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:state laws;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;state laws&quot;}\" class=\"link \">state laws<\/a> regarding civil rights and discrimination upon accepting the awards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Original article source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/texas-water-park-changes-muslim-event-gov-abbott-threatens-pull-530k-state-grants\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:\u2018Muslim only\u2019 event at Texas water park canceled after Abbott threatens to pull $530K in state grants;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;\u2018Muslim only\u2019 event at Texas water park canceled after Abbott threatens to pull $530K in state grants&quot;}\" class=\"link \">\u2018Muslim only\u2019 event at Texas water park canceled after Abbott threatens to pull $530K in state grants<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A &#8220;Muslim only&#8221; event at a taxpayer-funded Texas water park has been canceled following criticism and threats by&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":286684,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[105220,105217,1279,392,105218,27,29,28,105219],"class_list":["post-286683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-texas","tag-epic-waters","tag-epic-waters-indoor-waterpark","tag-grand-prairie","tag-greg-abbott","tag-modest-dress","tag-texas","tag-texas-headlines","tag-texas-news","tag-water-park"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/286683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=286683"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/286683\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/286684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=286683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=286683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=286683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}