EN
Because of the spaciousness of the analyses carried out in the last sub-task of the research task (Legal status of public participation in spatial planning) they are going to be presented in a separate article. The above description of the 4/5 of the research task leads to a number of conclusions that are not taken into account often enough in discussions and postulations concerning public participation. The feverishness and haste in waiting for the effects of public participation in spatial planning should be tempered with a short history (short life) of this phenomenon. Additionally, it is not possible to treat public participation, particularly in spatial planning, exclusively as a fulfilment of the democratic postulation of giving more authority to citizens. In this respect the citizens should acquire appropriate knowledge and skills without which it is not possible to imagine spatial design. It is nowadays typical that types (models) of public participation are confused. Informing, consulting, etc. are only tools of participation. The type of spontaneous participation we discriminated seems to be the most frequent way of civil participation in spatial planning in Poland right now. It is often conflicting participation that does not have its place in public participation based on consensus as is initiated and coordinated by official institutions or public administration. This shows that Poland’s spatial management has a conflict triggering nature. As a phenomenon that broadens democratic practices public participation in spatial planning and formation of space may be developed and enhanced. However, it is too often considered that this enhancement should rely on creating new (and enhancing the existing) instruments of participation – methods and techniques whereas also pointing at new fragments of social environment and social and spatial problems that are unsolvable without social participation is also a way of enhancement and broadening.