Residents in the East Islip area are standing behind a local bowling alley they consider a landmark.

Krissy Dworkin says she’s been going to the East Islip Lanes her whole life

“It’s one of the few places for kids to go in the neighborhood,” Dworkin says.

She says Main Street is already getting crowded and adding a senior living facility in place of the bowling alley will make it worse.

Judy Fisher, coach for the boys’ varsity bowling team, says everyone in the area was shocked and sad when they first heard the news.

“The owners just have made this place just a central part of our community for so long,” Fisher says.

News 12 reached out to the owners of the bowling alley, but has not heard back as of Friday at 10 p.m.

Sebastian Gebhard, captain of the boys’ varsity team, says a lot of his mentors have been at the bowling alley since he was in elementary school.

“It’s just been so longstanding, I would hate to see it go,” Gebhard says.

A spokesperson for Benchmark Senior Living sent a statement to News 12 saying in part, “Benchmark Senior Living is in the early stages of planning for this project and is conducting community outreach to disseminate information and give the community an opportunity to provide input.”

A petition has been sent out to resident to help protect East Islip Lanes and has been signed by nearly 900 people