I'm no expert, but a long time ago, I was talking with friends while waiting for our Philosophy Class to begin.
The Topic of Salting the Earth came up, and I remember hearing the most surprising thing.
Salting the Earth, while mostly symbolic of driving home the point of we have destroyed this civilization, its people, its land, and it will never recover....
There are in fact plants that can grow back in salted Earth. For your idea, its actually the opposite of what you want.
While making the paths bare, there are in fact weeds that can grow back. Anything you might want to grow later, probably wont happen, but some weeds still could.
In small amounts, like 2 to 1 water to salt in a spray bottle, it can be effective when applying directly to some weeds.
In large amounts, like the Romans driving home a point, I would not recommend. From what I remember it will eventually spread, widespread, its terrible for the land and soil, and eventually even after doing it, the only thing that might be growing back, would be weeds.
Without knowing what kind of square footage you are looking at, I've been told that one way to do it, is to put down newspaper for a time.
It blocks the light, moisture, and air, and any sprouted weeds will die.
I've only begun my Gardening Journey in the last few months, so take what I saw with a grain of salt.
Sorry I just couldn't stop myself.
