The efforts of the Kyiv Central Department for Urban Planning in hosting the European Football Championship Finals in 2012 must be seen as means to an end, not the end in itself. The Dnieper River embankment recuperation and reinvigoration is but a mere step in transforming and strengthening the entire Ukranian region. Just like the Dnieper is a geographical unit, the correspondence between city and nature must be carefully planned. The potential that this small intervention can actually undertake in eventually transforming the region starts here. More important than just improving the embankment, the city must offer strong connections that lead to the different natural resources and enliven the city. Just like Berezina is an affluent of the Dnieper, pedestrian and bike promenades should also become "urban affluents" of the Dnieper, existing forests and mountains.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE EXISTING PATH: The Edge is already a rich and complex walkway that has been worn out by time and lack of proper maintenance. It is the backbone of Kyiv´s most important Metropolitan park. As such there needs to be a general intervention along its entire length for it to reach its full potential. There needs to be an effort to restore the existing paths to their original state. Restoration has to include improvements in lighting, ramps for the disabled and the inclusion of bicycle paths. The new Edge will have different types of movements such as walking, jogging, in-line skating and bicycles.
