Maggy Smith has been a member since the club first opened and received an MBE for services to disability bowls.
“In 1998 there were bowlers with cerebral palsy and amputee bowlers and we really needed to get together,” she said.
“It’s had a tremendous impact and it encouraged other clubs to welcome disabled people into their clubs.”
She said finding out about the council’s plans was “a shock”.
She added: “I was absolutely gutted. The nearest club is Nottingham and the next nearest is Erewash.
“It’s a disgrace. If they’re putting a pool and a gym in that’s aimed at younger people. There aren’t many sports which are so inclusive.”
Carole Andrews, bowls secretary at the club, has been a member since 1994.
“The club means everything to me. After Covid we lost a lot of members and we’ve worked our socks off to build our membership up to better than it was before Covid,” she said. “This is their lifeline.”
A Gedling Borough Council spokesperson said it was providing support to the club.
They said the authority considered including indoor bowls in the new centre plans, but it was not affordable alongside the other proposals.
A consultation found the public wanted a swimming pool more.
“We also acknowledge the important role that the Richard Herrod Centre has played in supporting disability bowls,” the spokesperson added.
“Our commitment is to continue working constructively with the bowls club, partners and local residents while cabinet considers the petition and next steps in February.”
They added an assessment of other sites that could be turned into a new bowls club had been completed, but Mr Summerscales said the alternative sites were “clearly unaffordable” for the club.