Years of rigorous industrialization in the 20th century forced city rivers underground or in between concrete banks. But the modern perspective on water bodies in the city is changing. City rivers offer recreational areas and an additional line of transportation, but, most importantly, they are part of the city's ecosystem. Climate change is making the question of restoring natural ecosystems in modern cities a critical issue. In the summer of 2020, Moscow saw record amounts of rainfall, and the temperature in the city averages almost three degrees higher than in the Moscow Region. Restoring urban rivers and the network of water bodies is an effective tool for solving these environmental problems and in increasing their economic attractiveness. Well-designed embankments can attract residents and become multifunctional micro mobility spaces where sports, recreation, retail, and art can live. How do bodies of water influence the quality of life in the city? Can they form a foundation for an economically and environmentally sustainable city?

• How do cities benefit from natural bodies of water and what challenges are river restoration programs facing worldwide?
• How can we keep city rivers clean during their recovery from the underground and their reintegration into the urban environment? What kind of embankments should be constructed and in which cases is keeping a natural bank line appropriate?
• How can we assess the costs and benefits of urban river restoration projects?