Overly enthusiastic Indiana public official Leslie Knope manages to secure permission to convert a quarry pit into a green space for the community.

Leslie and her committee try to build support for the park project, while Tom uses some rather questionable recruiting tactics.

Leslie tries to get a reporter to do a story on her park project. Tom tries to score some brownie points with his boss.

A casual get-together presents Leslie with a difficult ethical choice, helping her to create a tempest in a teapot.

Leslie makes an impression at a banquet honoring her mother while Mark and Tom go to a bar to pick up women.

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.