Only in 2026 America could a taxpayer-funded waterpark become the backdrop for a “Muslim only” event that blew up so spectacularly it ended up scrapped by order of the Texas governor.
The mastermind behind the fiasco, Aminah Knight, is now under fresh scrutiny for running a child care center with a glaring typo in its name, the “Excellence Early Learing Center.”
The facility, located in the Fort Worth suburb of Hurst, proudly advertises itself online with that same misspelled banner, something most educators would rush to fix within moments.
Knight, who is listed as the owner, operator, and curriculum designer, boasts of academic credentials from both USC and Vanderbilt University. Yet, somehow, “learning” got lost along the way.
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The daycare’s pitch includes buzzwords common in modern progressive education circles: “multiculturalism,” “small classroom sizes,” “healthy eating,” and a “loving environment that feels like home.”
Staff reportedly hold degrees from “their home countries” in fields ranging from biology to accounting.
The center seeks to project an image of inclusivity, except when the conversation turns to who’s welcome at the local waterpark.
Earlier this month, Knight’s separate group, DFW Epic Eid, made headlines after it rented out Epic Waters in Grand Prairie, an enormous $88 million facility funded by local taxpayers, for an Eid holiday celebration labeled “Muslim only.”
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The event flyer made clear that the park would be “exclusively reserved for Muslims,” while demanding modest swimwear for all attendees.
It didn’t take long for the public to notice that a city-owned, taxpayer-funded venue was closing its doors to everyone but one religion.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott blasted the move immediately, calling it a flagrant violation of public access and equal rights.
In a post on X, Abbott declared, “A city-owned water park in Grand Prairie openly advertised a ‘MUSLIMS ONLY’ event – closed to the general public.”
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. I signed HB 4211 into law -- banning Muslim only no-go zones in Texas. The City must cancel the event and… https://t.co/W9NY9PAAjE — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 6, 2026
Knight tried to reframe the controversy with some belated wordsmithing, deleting the “Muslims only” language after backlash erupted online. She told reporters that the intent was not to exclude anyone, only to create a “comfortable” environment for those who “value modesty.”
But the damage was already done, and the explanation didn’t pass the smell test for most Texans who foot the bill for the park.
City officials moved quickly once the controversy caught fire.
By May 11, the city of Grand Prairie announced that the entire event had been canceled “in the best interest of the City.”
In other words, the governor’s threat to yank over half a million dollars in state safety funding worked.
The all-inclusive waterpark would remain open to all Texans, not just those pre-approved by event organizers.
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Governor Abbott’s swift reaction underscored why so many Texans still appreciate his leadership style: zero tolerance for politically correct double standards.
He wasn’t about to watch a public facility funded by sales taxes become an exclusionary social experiment.
His message was simple: taxpayer-funded spaces are for everyone, not just select groups hiding behind cultural sensitivity buzzwords.
Meanwhile, the “Learing Center” saga adds a new layer to the story.
The coincidence of the misspelled name matching that of a controversial daycare in Minneapolis from a few years ago had social media sleuths buzzing.
Critics found it ironic that someone who runs a place dedicated to childhood education didn’t notice such an obvious error in her own logo.
Others pointed out that if the same attention to detail was applied to her waterpark planning, it’s no surprise the event imploded.
Knight has not responded to further questions about the typo or the fate of her preschool venture.
She also hasn’t commented on the governor’s decision, choosing instead to quietly scrub the more inflammatory details from her organization’s online presence.
Left-wing commentators on social media have tried to paint the entire situation as an “overreaction,” claiming the event was misunderstood.
But that line didn’t stick with Texans who know exactly where their tax dollars go, including into the very park that was supposed to be open for everyone.
At the end of the day, the incident serves as yet another reminder that when publicly funded spaces get dragged into identity-based separatism, taxpayers usually lose.
And in this case, nothing about it was very “inclusive,” not even the spelling.
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