The WORST episodes of Parks and Recreation
Every episode of Parks and Recreation ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Parks and Recreation!
The series follows Leslie Knope, the deputy head of the Parks and Recreation department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Knope takes on a project with a nurse named Ann to turn a construction pit into a park, while trying to mentor a bored college-aged intern. However, Leslie must fight through the bureaucrats, problem neighbors, and developers in order to make her dream a reality, all with a camera crew recording her every gaff and mishap.
#1 - Make My Pit a Park
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/9/2009
Indiana government worker Leslie Knope is given the assignment to convert an abandoned quarry pit into a community park. A documentary film crew follows Leslie through her mishaps and gaffes as she tries to make her assignment a reality.
#2 - Canvassing
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/16/2009
Leslie decides that she and her committee need to go door-to-door to gain support for the park project as well as support for an upcoming town hall meeting, but their mission does not go as planned. Meanwhile, Tom wanders away from the canvassing group and uses his own creative recruitment tactics.
#3 - The Reporter
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/23/2009
Leslie arranges for a reporter to do a story about her park project, but she and her committee have the worst time staying on topic. She then calls Mark to help her save the story, but it ends up hurting more than helping. Meanwhile, Tom does all he can to suck up to his boss.
#4 - The Banquet
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/7/2009
During a banquet honoring her mother's public service, Leslie tries to convince a local zoning official to support her proposed park project. Meanwhile, Mark and Tom try to meet some ladies.
#5 - Boys' Club
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/30/2009
Leslie attempts to break into the political "old boys' club," causing an ethical dilemma. Meanwhile, Andy plans a surprise for Ann.
#6 - 2017
Season 7 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/13/2015
Leslie launches a competition with tech company Gryzzl for a large parcel of land, which she wants to turn into a National Park. April and Andy try to regain their spontaneity. Ben is recognized at a Bicentennial gala, where Tom delivers a speech in his honor.
#7 - Kaboom
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/22/2009
Leslie, Ann and the rest of the Parks Department volunteer to help the organization KaBOOM! build a playground for a neighboring town. After building an entire playground in one day, Leslie gets frustrated at the lack of progress with the pit, and takes some advice from Mark to cut through the red tape.
#8 - William Henry Harrison
Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/20/2015
Leslie's team tries to strengthen her case that the Newport land should be turned into a National Park. Ron's team, fighting back, brings on a celebrity as a minority owner.
#9 - Beauty Pageant
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/1/2009
Leslie gets to judge a beauty contest, but ends up having conflicting opinions on "the ideal woman" with the other judges. While on a date with Mark, Ann learns Andy has been living in the pit.
#10 - Galentine's Day
Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/11/2010
When Leslie hears her mom’s story about an old flame, she and her boyfriend Justin track him down and reunite them on Valentine’s Day. Meanwhile, Andy and his band are nervous about playing a gig at the Senior Center.
#11 - Park Safety
Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/18/2010
After Jerry gets mugged by a bunch of kids, Leslie meets with the head park ranger in hopes of improving park safety. Meanwhile, everyone tries to be nicer to Jerry once he returns to the office.
#12 - The Possum
Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/11/2010
When a possum bites the mayor's dog on a golf course, Leslie is asked to form a task force to catch the pesky animal. Meanwhile, Ron is upset when Mark refuses to bend the rules for him.
#13 - Sister City
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/15/2009
Leslie plays host to the Parks and Recreation department from Pawnee’s sister city, Boraqua, Venezuela, and is shocked at the cultural differences. Tom becomes an errand boy, and April plays hard to get.
#14 - Woman of the Year
Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/4/2010
Leslie is outraged when Ron wins a “Woman of the Year” award for a project she started. Meanwhile, Tom is desperate to find some money to invest in a local Pawnee club.
#15 - Sweetums
Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/4/2010
The Parks Department forms a partnership with a local company to sell energy bars at the parks in Pawnee, but Leslie tries to stop the deal when she discovers how unhealthy the snacks are. Mark reluctantly agrees to help Tom move out of his house.
#16 - Rock Show
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/14/2009
Leslie attends what she believes is a business meeting with an elderly local government bigwig, unaware that her mother has secretly set her up on a blind date. Andy plays his first gig since breaking both of his legs in the pit.
#17 - Christmas Scandal
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/10/2009
Leslie designs the Pawnee Winter Wonderland Festival, but has to hide from the press when a meeting with a disgraced Councilman lands her in the middle of a sex scandal. Meanwhile, Ron offers to cover for Leslie for the day, and quickly discovers how much work she really does.
#18 - Tom's Divorce
Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/3/2009
After Leslie finds out that Tom is getting a divorce, the department takes him out on the town to cheer him up. Meanwhile, Andy tries to hustle Mark in a game of pool.
#19 - The Camel
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/12/2009
After one of the murals in City Hall is defaced, Leslie and the Parks Department compete to come up with a new design. Meanwhile, Andy and Ron share an uncomfortable moment at the shoeshine stand.
#20 - New Slogan
Season 6 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/13/2014
Leslie aims to create a new town slogan, but runs afoul of local shock jocks. Andy scouts bands to play the Unity Concert and discovers an interesting secret about Ron, while Tom looks for a restaurant locale with Donna and April.
#21 - The Wall
Season 6 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/6/2014
After Leslie tries to take down the wall separating Pawnee and Eagleton, her life takes several unexpected turns. Tom and Ben meet with potential corporate sponsors for the concert, while Ron brings a surprise to the office and finds a new office hobby.
#22 - Greg Pikitis
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/29/2009
Leslie enlists the help of Dave and Andy in order to catch a local teen vandal. Meanwhile, Ann struggles to make her Halloween party fun, and ends up getting help from an unlikely source.
#24 - Leslie's House
Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/21/2010
After an amazing date with Justin in Indianapolis, Leslie tries to impress him with a dinner party at her house.
#25 - Leslie vs. April
Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/15/2012
Leslie gets upset when April tries to get Lot 48 made into a dog park. Tom enlists Ben’s help as he tries to launch his new business venture. Andy hones his crime-scene investigation skills.