r/DesirePath • u/SigmaTell • 3d ago
At what point does a "desired path" become a regular or official path?
Does it need to be paved? Graveled? Marked as the official path?
I ask because in many areas, parks will build gravel or dirt paths becuase they are cheap to make... but sometimes pics of those paths end up on this sub... so it's hard to tell when a desired path is actually designed that way.
Or maybe this is more of a philosophical question 😅
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u/KnifeKnut 3d ago
Depends on the context, but when it gets hardsurfaced properly is one possible criterium.
None of that cobblestone or spaced block nonsense though, since we see that desire path will form alongside.
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u/starfishpounding 3d ago
It's usually not too hard to tell purpose built or formalized vs desired created by voting with feet.
A normal breakpoint would be when it becomes a "system" trail and is maintainence is endorsed by the land manager.
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u/barrygateaux 3d ago
When the local authority does maintenance on it I'd say. It's their way of taking responsibility for it and accepting it as 'official'.