The rivers of Sofia

Led by The Collective Foundation, the Rivers of Sofia is a large-scale, community-led initiative that revitalizes Sofia’s neglected rivers into vibrant spaces, inspiring a national river-revitalisation movement. At the heart of the project is the Perlovska River – once invisible, now a symbol of hope for ecological and cultural renewal. Through placemaking, public art, data mapping, cleanup actions, and series of major festivals, the river has been transformed.

Starting with a single paper-boat installation in 2020, but with a mission to unite citizens, experts, artists and institutions, the initiative has reached a signed memorandum by Sofia’s mayor and four district mayors, transforming pure bottom up enthusiasm into city policy. The project catalyzed the cleanup of 120 sewage overflow points across Sofia and is gradually redefining river management strategies. Innovative mapping and mobile GIS tools were developed and replicated. Academic partners used the river in curricula; private companies supported campaigns and volunteering.

Our work at Perlovska river became a national model, being implemented in varying scales across 5 other Bulgarian cities.

This project proves that rivers are not just waterways – they are future city backbones. It offers a replicable blueprint for turning forgotten rivers into drivers of urban transformation. With low-cost, high-impact tools and community participation at its core, it has the potential to inspire river action across Europe.