THREE RIVERS, Mich. — As news of a local fitness center’s upcoming closure spreads, the Three Rivers community is petitioning for more to be done to save it.

Beacon Health & Fitness Three Rivers announced last week their plans to close the facility at the end of September, leaving many users shocked and heartbroken over a huge loss to the community.

“It’s impacting a lot more people than I think they expected,” said Misty Gisoldi, petition starter and facility user. “People have been going here for 20 or 30 years. So the friendships, it’s basically family.”

Gisoldi has only been using the facility for a short time, but has already developed a huge appreciation for the services offered and friends gained.

She began the petition that now has more than 150 signatures.

“I think everyone just kind of wanted to have a voice in it instead of just, ‘oh, this is happening,’” said Gisoldi. “Well, we’re the patrons. We’re the ones that are using this facility.”

The petition expresses a desire for the facility to remain open and explore other alternatives before shutting doors permanently.

The petition also refers to the center as much more than a gym, but a lifeline for many in the community; especially seniors, families, people with disabilities, and veterans.

“I’m a disabled veteran. I do have physical limitations that I am unable to do high impact or even medium impact exercises, so the pool was a great option for me,” said Gisoldi. “How are we going to move safely so we don’t hurt ourselves or we don’t overdo it? Because now we’re all trying to find alternatives.”

In a statement last week, Beacon said this decision was not made lightly and comes after years of leaders exploring a variety of ways to strengthen and sustain the facility.

But, despite those efforts, including efforts to grow membership and expand programming, the fitness center wasn’t generating enough revenue.

However, the petition states that closing this facility would leave many without a comparable local resource, forcing people to drive further for these life-changing services, when not everyone can.

“Personally, for me, it’s really hard for me to do those drives,” said Gisoldi. “I feel that there could have been more done to try and save it, other than just, ‘hey, we’re closing.’ It’s obviously financial. So I think that we’re just hoping that maybe the community can step up or someone can invest. We don’t want to lose such an essential aspect of so many people’s lives.”