
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 neighbors, 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.

A visit from two state auditors (Adam Scott and Rob Lowe) puts Leslie's new park plans on hold; April has a plan for Andy.

Leslie decides to take matters into her own hands when Ben (Adam Scott) stops her from holding a children's concert; Mark faces some big decisions; Andy is surprised by some romantic attention.

Leslie asks Ann to help her convince Chris and Ben to give the parks department more money; Ron and Andy coach basketball; April makes an announcement.

Leslie comes down with the flu while planning the local Harvest Festival; Andy and Ron bond.