Leslie Knope, a midlevel bureaucrat in an Indiana Parks and Recreation Department, hopes to beautify her town (and boost her own career) by helping local nurse Ann Perkins turn an abandoned construction site into a community park, but what should be a fairly simple project is stymied at every turn by oafish bureaucrats, selfish neighbours, governmental red tape and a myriad of other challenges. Leslie's colleague Tom Haverford, who delights in exploiting his position for personal gain, is as likely to undermine her efforts as to help her, while her boss, Ron Swanson, is adamantly opposed to government in any form, even though he's a bureaucrat himself.
Leslie finds herself at the centre of a political controversy after conducting a mock wedding ceremony for two penguins at the Pawnee zoo.
Leslie suspects that someone has planted drugs in the pit's community garden and takes Tom on a stake-out to unmask the culprit.
Leslie is invited to help judge Pawnee's annual beauty pageant, but she discovers that her ideals of femininity are very different from those of her fellow panellists.
Ann offers to help Leslie when she is overcome with nerves on the eve of her first date with Dave, and a political scandal inspires the rest of the department.
Leslie tries to make sure that things run without a hitch when she welcomes representatives from the Parks Department of Pawnee's sister city in Venezuela.
Leslie and her colleagues volunteer to help build a playground over the course of a day in Eagleton.
Halloween arrives as Leslie enlists Dave and Andy to keep an eye on a teenage prankster who vandalises one of Pawnee's most important statues every year.
Leslie's plans to transform a vacant lot into a park are placed in jeopardy by Tammy, the new director of the Pawnee library who also happens to be Ron's ex-wife.
Leslie encourages members of the department to submit designs for a new mural for the city hall, and Ron discovers an unexpected benefit to getting his shoes shined by Andy.
Leslie discovers that Ron secretly goes on a hunting trip every year and decides to invite herself and the rest of her colleagues along while leaving April holding the fort.
Leslie is horrified to learn that Tom is getting divorced and urges his colleagues to offer him their support... even though he seems strangely cheerful about the split.
Leslie accidentally becomes the subject of a tabloid scandal after being pictured talking to a notoriously promiscuous councillor.
Ann sets up Leslie on a blind date with an MRI technician that prompts Mark to become jealous, and Tom helps Ron find an assistant.
Leslie delivers some difficult news to teachers at the recreation centre before hosting a dinner party at her house to impress Justin.
Leslie and Ron become adversaries when a dishonest confectionery company vies for a concessions contract, and Tom moves out of his house.
Leslie teams up with Justin in an effort to reunite her mother with an old flame for Valentine's Day, but their plot proves ill-advised.
Leslie is upset when Ron wins a coveted Woman of the Year award, Tom looks for investors for a new nightclub, and Andy considers moving into his own place.
Leslie puts together a task force at the mayor's request to catch a possum at a local golf course, and Mark forces Ron to get his building in order.
Leslie goes on a crusade to improve park safety after Jerry is allegedly mugged, but it soon emerges that he has not been telling the whole truth.
Leslie organises a picnic for Ron and the past directors of the Parks Department, and Tom enlists Ann and Mark's help for a cover photo for the Summer Events Catalogue.
New. Summer Catalogue: Leslie organises a picnic for Ron and the past directors of the Parks Department, and Tom enlists Ann and Mark's help for a cover photo for the Summer Events Catalogue. S2 Ep20
Leslie sets out to save a gazebo at a mansion which is on the historical register, and Ron is forced to deal with a huge number of meetings thanks to April.
Leslie struggles to stay awake and fill the overnight hours at a local telethon when Tom and a former NBA star are sidetracked at a nightclub.
Everybody gets excited about celebrating April's 21st birthday except for Leslie, who fears that her budget is about to be cut by the state auditor's office.
Leslie tries to stage a children's party in spite of a government shutdown and park closures, and April's jealousy endangers her chances of getting together with Andy.