Parks and Recreation: Season 3

2011 · 16 episodes · ★ 8.0

What Season 3 of Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation kicks off with Leslie Knope, deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department in Pawnee, a fictional town in Indiana. Her optimism refuses to bow to bureaucracy, and it's put to the test when she tries to get more funding from Chris and Ben. Meanwhile, she is preparing the Harvest Festival, an event that grows more complicated with interviews, travel, and disagreements. Ron Swanson, the department director and an anti-government libertarian, opposes her projects again and again, including the abandoned pit that Ann insists be filled in ever since Andy fell into it. Leslie, Ron, Tom, Ann, and Andy drive the season, and their personal lives collide with their municipal work.

16episodes

Jan 20, 2011premiered

May 19, 2011latest episode

6.1 hrtotal runtime

Season 3 Episodes

3x01 Go Big or Go Home
Jan 20, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 7.8
Leslie and the Parks Department return to work after three months to discover that the budget crisis still looms. After unsuccessfully trying to have their budget restored by using Ann to charm Chris with a date, Leslie decides to make an all or nothing play by resurrecting the Pawnee Harvest Festival. Meanwhile, Ben restarts the youth basketball league and instates Ron and Andy to coach the only two teams. April returns from a vacation with a new boyfriend.
Directing: Dean Holland · Writing: Alan Yang · Starring: Natalie Morales, Jama Williamson, Carlo Mendez, Jason Boegh
3x02 Flu Season
Jan 27, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 8.1
While planning for the local Harvest Festival, Leslie is struck with the flu and is forced to go to the hospital. Ron and Andy have a day of male bonding, and Tom hits the spa.
Directing: Wendey Stanzler · Writing: Norm Hiscock · Starring: Brent Briscoe, Jeanne Simpson, Terrence Beasor, Frank Noon
3x03 Time Capsule
Feb 3, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 7.5
Leslie wants to bury a time capsule that encapsulates life in Pawnee, but an odd suggestion from a local man causes unforeseen consequences. Andy seeks help from Chris about how to win back April.
Directing: Michael Schur · Writing: Michael Schur · Starring: Will Forte, Natalie Morales, Jama Williamson, Alison Becker
3x04 Ron & Tammy: Part Two
Feb 10, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 7.9
Tom tries to get back at Ron by going out on a date with Ron's ex-wife Tammy, while Leslie tries to protect Ron from falling prey to her charms. Meanwhile, April is assigned to work with Chris.
Directing: Tucker Gates · Writing: Emily Kapnek · Starring: Tracy Howe, Jama Williamson, James Sharpe, Matt Kelley
3x05 Media Blitz
Feb 17, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 7.8
While advertising for the Harvest Festival, Ben has to deal with some troubling questions about his past. Meanwhile, Andy continues to try to win April back.
Directing: David Rogers · Writing: Harris Wittels · Starring: Nick Kroll, Alison Becker, Minni Jo Mazzola, Jeris Poindexter
3x06 Indianapolis
Feb 24, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 7.7
Ron and Leslie take a road trip to the big city in order to visit Ron's favorite place which happens to be a steakhouse, but Leslie has alternative motives for the trip.
Directing: Randall Einhorn · Writing: Katie Dippold · Starring: Andy Milder, Nick Armstrong, Tim Acres, Jon Barinholtz
3x07 Harvest Festival
Mar 17, 2011 · 27 min · ★ 8.2
It's make it or break it for the Parks Department at the Harvest Festival which is full of surprises.
Directing: Dean Holland · Writing: Daniel J. Goor · Starring: Joseph Russo, Becky Thyre, Vincent Angelo, Chris Lusti
3x08 Camping
Mar 24, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 7.6
Leslie takes the whole department camping in order to brainstorm new ideas. Meanwhile, Andy attempts a romantic gesture for April, while Ann gets nervous when Chris returns to Pawnee as the new city manager.
Directing: Rob Schrab · Writing: Aisha Muharrar · Starring: Phil Reeves, Annie O'Donnell, Andy Forrest
3x09 Andy and April's Fancy Party
Apr 14, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 8.3
April and Andy host a dinner party for the Parks Department. Meanwhile, Ann tries to move on from Chris at a singles' party.
Directing: Michael Trim · Writing: Katie Dippold · Starring: Pat Crawford Brown, John Ellison Conlee, Terri Hoyos, Harris Wittels
3x10 Soulmates
Apr 21, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 7.9
Leslie tries an online dating service, but doesn't end up with a stranger as she expects. Also, Chris challenges Ron to a grilling competition as part of his plans to make Pawnee healthier.
Directing: Ken Whittingham · Writing: Alan Yang · Starring: Kirk Fox, Mark Saul, Aimee Parker, James Harvey Ward
3x11 Jerry's Painting
Apr 28, 2011 · 27 min · ★ 8.2
Jerry's contribution to Leslie's community art show causes a stir. Ben moves in with April and Andy and attempts to teach them how to be adults. Meanwhile, Leslie is frustrated by Chris and his interoffice dating rules.
Directing: Dean Holland · Writing: Norm Hiscock · Starring: Mara Marini, Darlene Hunt, Jozef Fahey, Biff Yeager
3x12 Eagleton
May 5, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 8.0
Leslie's ex-best friend, Lindsay Carlisle Shay, launches an attack on Pawnee, banning residents from visiting a nearby park in the neighboring city of Eagleton with a large fence, causing Leslie to go to war with Eagleton. Meanwhile, everyone finds out that it is Ron's birthday, a fact that he went to extreme lengths to conceal.
Directing: Nicole Holofcener · Writing: Emily Spivey · Starring: Parker Posey, Damion Poitier, Harrison Thomas Boxley, Bob Elliott
3x13 The Fight
May 12, 2011 · 26 min · ★ 8.1
When Leslie tries to get Ann a job at city hall, her lukewarm reaction causes their first-ever fight. Tom invites the entire department to the Snakehole Lounge to help him promote his new alcohol, "Snake Juice."
Directing: Randall Einhorn · Writing: Amy Poehler · Starring: Andy Milder, Nick Kroll, Yvans Jourdain, Matt Besser
3x14 Road Trip
May 12, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 8.2
When Chris sends Leslie and Ben on a trip to Indianapolis, Leslie is afraid she won't be able to deny her feelings for him. Ron teaches a young student about his views on government. Meanwhile, Andy gets his feelings hurt by April after playing Tom's new game.
Directing: Troy Miller · Writing: Harris Wittels · Starring: Jessica St. Clair, Kirk Fox, Alyssa Shafer, Alan Yang
3x15 The Bubble
May 19, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 8.0
Everyone in the office is unhappy when Chris decides to make some big changes in the parks department -- especially Tom who starts to question his career choices. Leslie is caught off guard when Ben has a meeting with her mom.
Directing: Matt Sohn · Writers: Greg Levine, Brian Rowe · Starring: Pamela Reed, Helen Slayton-Hughes, Jim Jansen, Sara Van Horn
3x16 Li'l Sebastian Season Finale
May 19, 2011 · 23 min · ★ 8.0
Leslie and the parks team put together a memorial service for a dearly departed friend. Meanwhile, Tom makes a big life decision, while Chris reacts badly to a health problem.
Directing: Dean Holland · Writing: Daniel J. Goor · Starring: Biff Yeager, Megan Mullally, Ben Schwartz, Andy Forrest