Perhaps the story is apocryphal, hence my not being able to find it. The Stewart Brand citation will work nicely. I’m working on the chapter about “space,” and the desire line idea perfectly illustrates the tension between built and native environments.

“PAVE WHERE THE PATH IS. An oft-told story (perhaps apocryphal) tells how a brilliantly lazy college planner built a new campus with now paths built in at all. She waited for the first winter and photographed where people made paths in the snow between the buildings. Next spring, that’s where the paving went. Some design is better if it’s postponed.”

Christopher Alexander also talks about the concept of “desire lines” in The Oregon Experiment.

Also, I found a bit about what are called “desire lines” or “desire paths” that hints at the sidewalk anecdote, so that one could be locked soon as well (I’m going to the library proper tomorrow after Josh’s class).

I’ll keep you abreast of this chicken (I know you’re all on the very edge of your seats).