UVM Desire Paths

Emily Kobus, Co-Photo Editor

October 5, 2023

A winding path off of South Prospect leading into a field on Redstone’s campus.

While commonly overlooked, the worn dirt path beneath your feet on a walk across campus reveals the stories of students before us, in defiance of the traditional path—or lack thereof.

When urban planners do not satisfy the needs and desires of pedestrians, the people will create their own walkway. Whether their purpose is efficiency, addressing the lack of a path or simple civil disobedience, desire paths have certainly found their way onto UVM’s campus.

In an effort to create a comprehensive guide of UVM’s desire paths, I spent a week exploring every corner of campus with my camera—not only taking note of the paths, but observing the intent and direction of the people who used them.

Curving around Coolidge Hall, this path is used by students to get to and from the CATBus stop outside of Redstone Lofts.
(Emily Kobus)

Desire paths often expose the lack of accessible walkways, as seen at the end of this crosswalk by the Fleming Museum.
(Emily Kobus)

A student walks through a worn-down patch of grass towards Cohen Hall.
(Emily Kobus)

Many dirt trails have appeared on the Central campus green seemingly due to congestion on the sidewalks between classes. (Emily Kobus)

A steeper rocky path leading down into the Waterman parking lot far from the parking lot’s stairs.
(Emily Kobus)

Two paths in opposite directions leaving UHeights South on Athletic campus.
(Emily Kobus)

Fallen leaves line a path cutting across a small green towards the Catholic Center.
(Emily Kobus)

Footprints can be seen in the dirt on this shortcut to the entrance of Williams Hall. (Emily Kobus)

A long and busy desire path off a sidewalk by Mann Hall on the way to Trinity campus.
(Emily Kobus)

Various paths take shape on the way down the hill to McAuley Hall.
(Emily Kobus)

About the Contributor

Emily Kobus, Co-Photo Editor

(She/her) Emily Kobus is a sophomore public communication major, concentrating in community media and journalism and minoring in political science. She began her work at the Cynic as a staff photographer before taking on the role of photo editor. In her free time, Emily enjoys writing, café hopping and exploring the outdoors. Email [email protected] to get in contact with Emily.

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UVM Desire Paths

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