MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - New fitness equipment has been added to Wonch Park, located on Okemos Road in Meridian Township giving residents a chance to get closer to nature as they exercise.

The Wonch Park Fitness Zone includes 12 different pieces of fitness equipment. Individuals are able to use the equipment to work on upper body, lower body, core and cardio workouts. Some of the Fitness Zone equipment are made for multiple people.

Chelsea Reed visits Wonch Park often for the new exercise equipment and enjoys the atmosphere and open concept, "I really like that I get to be outside working out, there's a lot of space. I like just being outside getting the sun, and I feel like it's just more of a cleaner, more fresh environment, and I feel like it's more motivating than being stuck in a hot sweaty gym!"

According to Meridian Township Parks & Recreation Director LuAnn Maisner, the fitness equipment cost $52,790. Meridian Township paid $35,110 and $17,680 was paid by a grant received from Greenfields Outdoor Fitness.

Along with the new fitness equipment, Wonch Park has a new pavilion and a community mural which is now on display from the Celebrate Meridian event held in June.