Aminah Knight, the organizer of the DFW Epic Eid event, has drawn renewed public attention following the cancellation of a "Muslim-only" event at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark in Grand Prairie, Texas. The controversy deepened when it was revealed that Knight, who also operates a childhood education center, has a notable misspelling on her facility's website that mirrors a similar error at a previously controversial Minneapolis daycare.
The DFW Epic Eid event, originally scheduled for June 1, aimed to provide an Eid celebration at the 80,000-square-foot indoor waterpark. Initial promotional materials for the third-annual event stated that "the entire waterpark has been exclusively reserved for Muslims" and mandated modest swimwear for all attendees. This language quickly sparked widespread debate across social media and various news outlets, raising questions about exclusivity in publicly funded spaces.
Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark, a significant recreational facility, was constructed in 2017 following a 2014 vote by Grand Prairie residents to approve a 0.25% sales tax increase, which funded its $88 million development. The park's public financing became a central point of contention for critics who argued that a publicly owned venue should not host events exclusive to a single religious group.
Following the initial outcry, Knight moved to revise the event flyer, removing the exclusionary phrasing. She communicated her intentions to the New York Post via email, stating, "The core intention behind this event is to create a space where individuals and families who value modest dress and a modest environment can come together and feel comfortable enjoying a recreational space that often doesn’t naturally accommodate those preferences."
Despite the clarification, the controversy escalated. Texas Governor Greg Abbott intervened, publicly stating on X that "A city-owned water park in Grand Prairie openly advertised a ‘MUSLIMS ONLY‘ event – closed to the general public.” Governor Abbott subsequently threatened to withhold $530,000 in public safety grants from Grand Prairie unless city officials canceled the event by May 11. In response to the Governor's ultimatum and public pressure, the City of Grand Prairie confirmed the event's cancellation. A city spokesperson told the New York Post, “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.”
Amidst the fallout from the waterpark event, attention shifted to Knight's other professional endeavor: the Excellence Early Learning Center in Hurst, a Fort Worth suburb. Knight owns, operates, and designs the curriculum for the center, which serves young children. The center's website, however, features a notable typo, introducing the facility as the “Excellence Early Learing Center,” missing the "n" in "learning." This specific misspelling was highlighted by journalist Sara Gonzales on X, who noted its similarity to a typo previously observed at a controversial daycare in Minneapolis that had also garnered media attention.
The Excellence Early Learning Center's promotional materials describe it as a "warm, enriching haven" that offers "multiculturalism, small classroom sizes, healthy eating and a warm, loving environment that feels like home." The site lists staff credentials including degrees in various fields from their home countries. Knight herself holds strong academic credentials, including a master’s degree from the University of Southern California and a doctorate from Vanderbilt University, which observers noted made the initial waterpark controversy even more surprising.
When the New York Post reached out to Knight for comment regarding the typo and its connection to the Minneapolis daycare, she did not respond. The misspelling remains visible on the center's website. The ongoing scrutiny highlights public and official concerns regarding the use of public resources and the professional conduct of organizers involved in community events. The incident has fueled discussions on religious accommodation, non-discrimination policies, and the responsibilities of individuals overseeing both public-facing events and educational institutions.
