It might, but we do not recommend the use of the groundcover (running) species of Liriope (Liriope spicata), as it can be very aggressive, hard to remove (if you or someone else wanted to change plantings in the future) and invasive. Clumping Liriope (Liriope muscari) is more well-behaved overall, but offers little if any wildlife value.

We overhauled our Groundcovers web page this summer, including a number of native and non-native non-invasive plant species as suggestions for different site conditions (sun vs. shade, damp vs. dry, etc.). It's not an exhaustive list, but may offer some ideas. Native plants would be preferable and can support more wildlife, but whatever is used, a mix of species is best. This helps to improve the resiliency of the planting as a whole, since different species have different tolerances and vulnerabilities. Since the soil in this location is probably quite compacted, amending it with compost as you plant can help plants establish, and any species chosen (even drought-tolerant ones) will need careful attention to watering needs after planting for their first full year in the ground at least, especially in areas where tree roots infiltrate the site.

Miri

Thanks, Miri.  Would one plant clumping liriope (if one were to do so) in the fall or spring?  I doubt that anything I plant is going to discourage the deer, rabbits, and foxes that I’ve seen in my area!

Fall or spring would be fine, though fall might be slightly better for the plant (as long as it's not late fall) so it has longer to establish before dealing with summer heat and drought. While herbivores tend to avoid Liriope most of the time, we have seen it nibbled. Few groundcovers are reliably deer-resistant (and also rabbit-resistant), unfortunately, though some are rarely bothered. Foxes mainly prey on rodents, rabbits, and other animals, though they might nibble plants (mostly fruits and seeds) from time to time, so they are not really a garden pest the way groundhogs, rabbits, etc. can be.

Miri