00:00A taxpayer-funded water park outside of Dallas is making waves with a plan to host a Muslims-only
00:05event next month to celebrate Eid. The event will feature halal food, a private prayer room,
00:10and a modest dress code. Now, this is the third iteration of the event, being held at Epic Waters
00:15in Grand Prairie, Texas. The 80,000-square-foot water park opened in 2017 and was financed by a
00:210.25% sales tax, hence the public funding. Outrage from non-Muslims ensued, but organizers told the
00:28post that the intentions of the celebration were miscommunicated. On initial advertisements,
00:32it was billed as a Muslims-only event, but after being questioned by the post, the organizer then
00:37made advertisements clear that it is a modest dress-only event. Basically, if people of other
00:43religions or backgrounds want to attend, they can, as long as they follow the dress code.
00:47But as of Monday evening, the FAQ on the event's website still read, quote,
00:51the entire water park has been exclusively reserved for Muslims, creating a private
00:55and comfortable environment. A spokesperson for the park didn't respond to a request by the post
01:00for clarity, but regarding the criticism that the facility would exclude certain taxpayers who
01:04helped bankroll the park, the organizer pointed out that the park regularly rents the facility for
01:09private events and that this is no different.
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