Cities are identified by a combination of geography, culture, architecture, site-specific characteristics, policies and patterns of growth. One key identifying characteristic of many cities around the world are the ways in which bodies of water (rivers and streams) through, marking one of the basic components of this multidimensional formation. Porsuk Stream, in the city of Eskişehir is an example of a key hydrological element that shapes its landscape. Porsuk Stream affects and is affected by the city. As it continues its path from East to West, cuts the city into two equal territories. In the early 2000s, an extensive rehabilitation practice was carried out on Porsuk Stream, which was confronted with the negative effects of a rapid urbanization process. This practice, in general terms, also led to the revitalization of Porsuk waterfront in the city center and its immediate surroundings and strengthened the relationship between the city and the water. However, the experience of place in relationship to the waterfront differs in other parts of the city along the water‟s edge. This study evaluates different user experiences of Porsuk Stream, based on the differences in the spatial patterns of the city. Two successive methods are followed for this purpose: the first one utilizes Serial Vision Analysis (SVA) regarding structure features, patterns, spacing, etc. on both sides of Porsuk Stream. The second explores subregions that emerge through SVA, types, identifying different levels of experience on the waterfront. The basic outcomes of the study reveal that Porsuk is a mostly passive element in the built environment, and user experiences are limited, with the exception of limited areas of access near the city center and parks. The means and levels of interaction between Porsuk and the riverfront vary in the regions determined along the research area. The result of this limited access to Porsuk prevents citizens from establishing a balanced and continuous interaction with the waterfront, with the exception of certain limited regions. The main reason behind this, is the relationship between Porsuk and the citizen is mainly due to policies and land development that favor of the built environment. When it comes to urban rivers, approaches that integrate nature and the built environment should not be neglected. This research seeks to reveal the critical role that waterfront access plays in the health of the city and makes the case for design and planning interventions along the riverfront that create a balance between water and the city.