University Recognizes Student-Made Desired Path

By LARRY BONILLA/Copy Editor

After a long summer, returning UT Tyler students came back to campus and discovered that their favorite dirt-path was layered with recycled asphalt. This student made desire-path has been walked over and tread upon for years now between Harvey Deck and the Ratliff Buildings. Last spring, the path was dirt; this fall, the path is made up of recycled asphalt.

Last year, the Talon covered two desire-paths on campus in an article. Desire paths are unplanned trails created by constant human foot traffic.

The path between Harvey Deck and the Ratliff buildings, Rooty Road, was characterized by its uneven terrain and protruding roots. With the implementation of recycled asphalt, the path has improved it’s accessibility. 

We reached out to Executive Director of Facilities Management Andrew Krouse about the new changes made to the path.

“We see students using that path already, and we wanted to provide a better way to travel between Ratliff Building South and Harvey Deck.”

Traditionally, desired paths act as early blueprints to real paved walkways; thus, we asked if this path would ever be paved.

“If we did that, we would damage the root structures on those trees,” said Krouse. “A lot of those trees would end up coming down.”

A key part of the charm of UT Tyler’s campus is the nature. The campus is park-like considering the abundance of trees, the centrality of the lakes, and the proximity to wild-life. Facilities management wants to maintain this vision of campus.

Director Krouse says he’s been having conversations with Chief Mike Medders about the desire path by University Pines to make the way safer.

“That is one thing we do, we look for the dirt paths where students are walking,” said Krouse. “That tells us where to build sidewalks.”

Desire paths are significant forms of human-made infrastructure. As the University grows in enrollment, more students will walk around campus, creating desire paths. That is especially if the paths that we currently have are difficult to access or use.

“Campus connectivity and accessibility are incredibly important on this campus,” said Krouse, “and we want to make sure we do what we can to help.”