A desire path is an unofficial trail worn into the ground by repeated foot or animal traffic, typically taking the shortest or most convenient shortcut where designed sidewalks or paths are circuitous, awkward, or missing.
Despite the fact that they share a parking lot, the Fries Art Building and Red and Black cafe at Wesleyan University are separated by a fence. What could be a 2 minute walk between locations becomes almost 4 times as long as a result. So it was extremely unsurprising when someone cut a hole in said barrier.
To prevent premature closure, a sign was affixed next to the hole in the fence labeled hole in the same style of the University’s building signage.
With the hole present people were able to act on this desire path, and began using the shortcut to shorten their commutes. Students were on time to their classes, Middletown residents traveled easier, and the clouds parted while heaven smiled.
The Hole remained open for the Spring semester of 2026 at Wesleyan University until campus facilities noticed and closed it at the end of the school year.
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