Texas Gov. Greg Abbott demanded Wednesday that Grand Prairie cancel a private Eid al-Adha event at the city-owned Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark or forfeit over $530,000 in state public safety grants by May 11.

Abbott's office sent a letter to Mayor Ron Jensen citing five active grants from the Governor's Public Safety Office for 2026. The letter, dated May 6, argued the event violates civil rights protections and non-discrimination clauses in the grant agreements by reserving the facility exclusively for Muslims, requiring Islamic dress standards, and closing it to the public. Non-compliance would lead to termination of the grants, repayment of funds within 30 days, and ineligibility for future awards.

In a post on X, Abbott stated: "A city-owned water park in Grand Prairie openly advertised a 'MUSLIMS ONLY' event -- closed to the general public. That's religious discrimination. It’s unconstitutional." He referenced House Bill 4211, which he signed, banning Muslim-only no-go zones, and added: "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."

The controversy surrounds the third annual DFW Epic Eid celebration scheduled for June 1. Promotional fliers initially described it as a "Muslims only event" with a modest dress code, halal food, and a private prayer area. Tickets cost $55 without food or $65 with. After backlash from conservatives and social media influencers, organizers updated materials to say "All are welcome" while retaining the "modest dress only" requirement.

Aminah Knight, a Dallas-area mother of six organizing the event, said it aims to provide a family-friendly space with modesty standards suitable for water parks. "We're just saying that for one day, we are curating a space where people who value modesty can come together," she told reporters. Knight noted the event proceeded without issue the past two years.

Epic Waters, which opened in 2017, is funded partly by a voter-approved 0.25% sales tax increase and managed by a third-party operator. Private rentals start at $5,000 per hour, allowing full facility bookings.

Grand Prairie officials acknowledged public concerns Tuesday and said they were working with the park to follow policies. The city has not commented on Abbott's letter or confirmed cancellation as of Wednesday evening. A spokesman did not respond to inquiries.

Abbott has used similar tactics recently, threatening funding to other cities over policies he views as conflicting with state priorities, such as Dallas over immigration enforcement rules. The Grand Prairie standoff highlights tensions over public facilities hosting religiously themed private events.