Abstract
Motives: The study examines the potential for city riverside areas to develop water sports and recreational activities. In many cities, there is an increased interest in these activities and the potential for their development.Aim: The purpose of the article is to present the criteria for the preliminary selection of study objects and the method of assessing their suitability for the development of various types of water activities, using the example of the selected requirements associated with the location.Results: The Vistula riverside in Warsaw was adopted as a pilot area for testing the proposed assessment approach. 61 sites were selected for the analysis. There are only 13 existing and operating river marinas, water sports clubs, and water stops for boats and ferries. The remaining sites comprise public green parks, informal beaches, and degraded areas such as former shipyards and sand pits. The authors sought to encompass a diverse range of locations with respect to facilities, infrastructure, and other amenities influencing the potential for the development of water activities. The emphasis was also placed on sites situated beyond the city centre, ensuring service provision for more peripheral urban areas. The results enable an overall ranking of the sites, the identification of facilities suitable for multifunctional use, and those most suitable for specific forms of water activities. The evaluation outcomes may guide the city authorities in introducing land use and development provisions into spatial planning acts, support the modernisation of some existing facilities, e.g. by expanding their service offer and, in other cases, adapting functions to cater to water-based tourism and recreation, thereby enhancing the diversity and attractiveness of the Vistula riverside areas in Warsaw.