IRVINE

Pat Vinet’s feisty dogs, Crash and Guthrie, can’t stay still in the backyard. But that isn’t surprising, because the yard is about the size of a large parking space. With Irvine’s strict leash laws, her Jack Russell terriers can’t run free anywhere in Irvine.

Vinet and 20 other volunteers started lobbying for a dog park in Irvine more than two years ago. Their effort won approval from the Community Services Commission in December, and on Oct. 21 Irvine’s dogs will have a free-range play space on Oak Canyon Road called Central Bark.

Meanwhile, the group adapted initial plans to fit the budget. Some of the decisions included planting grass instead of turf for wheelchair accessibility, separating areas for big dogs and small dogs, building a concrete watering hole and installing lights.