Due to the contemporary paradigm of changing the attitude towards such natural bodies of water as rivers in the modern world which takes into account the natural conditions and historical value of rivers in the historical, cultural, and civilizational development of the territories and peoples that inhabit them the paper raises a range of issues: from the consequences of destruction due to military actions of an entire region to the degraded conditions of rivers in cities. The state of rivers in cities, where the tributaries were especially affected, requires the development of river restoration projects. From this point of view, their historical and cultural potential is considered as a factor that helps us to raise the question of restoring the river as a natural watercourse – their revitalization, rather than forgetting them and leaving them in underground or above-ground concrete collectors. The green and water technologies can play a significant role in these efforts. These technologies are proposed to be applied comprehensively, as shown in the example of the author’s model of «blue-green» urban infrastructure for the conditions of riparian cities.