Grand Prairie’s Epic Splash: How Epic Waters Redefined a Communities Future

Grand Prairie’s Epic Vision: Transforming a Suburb with Epic Waters

Nestled in the sprawling Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex; Grand Prairie, Texas, has long been a quiet player amongst its flashier neighbors. But with the creation of Epic Waters, a city-owned indoor water park, this suburb is rewriting its story. As Nancy Patterson and Rick Coleman, leaders behind the project, shared at a sustainability conference, Grand Prairie’s journey from an “outlier” to a regional destination showcases how a bold vision can transform a community.

A Suburb with Big Dreams

Grand Prairie, a city of about 150,000–160,000 residents when the Epic Waters project began (now over 200,000), sits squarely between Dallas and Fort Worth in what locals call the “mid-cities.” Unlike Arlington, home to stadiums and Six Flags, or Irving, known for its corporate hubs, Grand Prairie was often overlooked, as Coleman, CEO of American Resort Management, pointed out. Yet, this underdog status fueled the city’s ambition to create something extraordinary—a community asset that would put Grand Prairie on the map.

In 2010, the city opened The Summit, a stunning recreation center for residents aged 55 and older. While it was a hit, it left a gap: there was no all-ages facility to serve the broader community, particularly in a lower-income area where recreational options were limited. Enter the dream of all things Epic, a project born from the city’s desire to elevate experiences for its residents and draw visitors from as far as seven to eight hours away. As Patterson, Director of Design and Business Development at OpenAire, explained, the goal was to build more than a water park—it was to create a hub that would foster pride and opportunity.

Building for the Community

Epic Waters, launched with a $90 million budget in 2018, was designed to address Grand Prairie’s unique needs. The 70,000-square-foot water park, paired with a 120,000-square-foot recreation center, an all-abilities playground, all located around the Grand Lawn for free events, was a direct response to the community’s call for inclusive, accessible recreation. Rick highlighted the city’s commitment to affordability, noting that locals can access the water park for as little as $9, thanks to partnerships with schools and community groups. This focus on inclusion ensures that every family, regardless of income, can enjoy the fun.

The project’s roots trace back to a bit of local lore: a previous water park in Grand Prairie was bought by a competitor and paved over, sparking a “revenge” mission to bring back a better version. But this wasn’t just about slides—it was about sustainability and impact. The water park’s revenue supports the recreation center and funds community events, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals like education, equality, and job creation. The result? A campus that welcomed 1.7 million visitors last year, with the water park alone growing from 320,000 to over 400,000 annual attendees.

From Outlier to Destination

Grand Prairie’s vision has paid off in ways few could have predicted. Epic Waters has become a regional draw, pulling families from across Texas and beyond for multi-day stays. The project’s success spurred over two million square feet of private development, including hotels and restaurants, turning the area into a “hub-and-spoke” tourism destination where visitors enjoy Epic Waters one day and explore nearby Six Flags or downtown Dallas the next. As Rick noted, kids arriving at Epic Waters often call it their “Orlando vacation,” a testament to its magical appeal.

The city’s innovative financing—leveraging a voter-approved sales tax redirection—ensured the project didn’t burden taxpayers, while its “Belt and Suspenders” approach kept projections conservative yet wildly successful. This model is now inspiring smaller communities, like Bellevue, Nebraska, to build their own versions, proving that Grand Prairie’s formula can work anywhere.

A Blueprint for the Future

Grand Prairie’s transformation shows what’s possible when a community dares to dream big. Epic Waters isn’t just a water park; it’s a symbol of what a community can achieve by prioritizing its people. From fostering social skills in the recreation center’s theater and culinary academy to hosting free festivals on the Grand Lawn, the project has created a sense of pride that, as Coleman quipped, makes the entire Metroplex “jealous.” For cities looking to revitalize their identity or repurpose spaces like dead malls, Grand Prairie’s story offers a splash of inspiration.

Ready to see this vision in action? Visit Epic Waters in Grand Prairie or explore how your community can create its own game-changing destination.