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Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation is an American political satire mockumentary television sitcom created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Parks and Recreation is an American political satire mockumentary television sitcom created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur. It aired on NBC from 2009 to 2015 and follows employees of the Parks Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. The series was also broadcast and discussed in Canada, and it remains widely watched by Canadian audiences through television and streaming availability.

Premise

The series follows the everyday work and personal lives of public employees in Pawnee's Parks Department. Its plots often involve local government projects, workplace relationships, and civic bureaucracy.

Production

Parks and Recreation was created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, who also served as executive producers. It was broadcast by NBC and ran for seven seasons.

Reception

The series was widely recognized by critics and award bodies. Among its major honours were multiple Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe win, and a Peabody Award.

Special episode

A reunion episode was broadcast on April 30, 2020. It brought the cast back together in a special format separate from the original series run.

Key facts

  • The series is set in the Parks Department of the fictional city of Pawnee, Indiana.
  • Amy Poehler stars as Leslie Knope, a mid-level government employee and central character.
  • The show uses a mockumentary style, presenting events as if filmed by a documentary crew.
  • It received 14 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and won a Golden Globe for Poehler's performance.
  • A reunion special aired in 2020.
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Canadian context

The series was also broadcast and discussed in Canada, and it remains widely watched by Canadian audiences through television and streaming availability.

Frequently asked questions

What is Parks and Recreation?
It is an American television sitcom in mockumentary style about the Parks Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana.
Who created Parks and Recreation?
Greg Daniels and Michael Schur created the series.
When did it originally air?
It aired on NBC from April 9, 2009, to February 24, 2015.
How many seasons and episodes does it have?
The series ran for seven seasons and 125 episodes.
Who plays Leslie Knope?
Amy Poehler plays Leslie Knope, the show's main character.
Did the show win any major awards?
Yes. It received major recognition including a Golden Globe win for Amy Poehler and a Peabody Award.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parks_and_Recreation
    Supports: Series title, creators, genre, NBC run, episode count, awards, and general premise.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Parks-and-Recreation
    Supports: Series description, mockumentary style, creators, premise, and Emmy nomination count.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1266020/
    Supports: Original release date and series identification.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Parks_and_Recreation_episodes
    Supports: Season and episode count.
  5. Wikipedia (Catalan) — https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parks_and_Recreation
    Supports: Canadian-accessible corroboration for original run, premise, and creators.