The Drillfield will get a minor facelift this summer when three of the dirt pathways crossing the grass area are paved with asphalt.

Weather permitting, work will begin early next week and will be completed before the start of the fall semester.

The paths, which carry thousands of students daily, often become muddy, which leads to a significant amount of dirt being tracked into buildings. The dirt paths were never a planned feature of the Drillfield. They evolved organically as students crossed the area over time.

The new asphalt paths will join five existing paved paths. They will be five feet wide compared to the existing 12-foot-wide paths, and are a temporary fix until future improvements are made.

Long-term plans call for significant upgrades to the Drillfield and paths. The university master plan includes a project to improve the landscaping and pathways, add seating areas, and enhance path entrances. In addition, a future project could move parking away from the field to the building side of Drillfield Drive.

“The Drillfield is the iconic centerpiece of campus and our goal is to make the space more attractive and usable. Paving the dirt pathways is just the first step. We have significant improvements planned for the future,” said Sherwood Wilson, vice president for administration.