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Parks and Recreation (2009-2015) is a sitcom that follows the lives of Pawnee, Indiana's government employees, led by Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler). Optimistic to a fault, Knope throws herself headfirst into making her tiny town the best place to be. Her colleagues, however, are less than enthused to follow along.
In the show's final season, things progressed considerably with a three-year time leap. Leslie is the Midwest Regional Director of the National Parks Service, Ron starts his private sector endeavor called the "Very Good Building and Development Company", Ben is a candidate running for the House of Representatives, Andy has his own kids' TV show, and Tom is a restaurant mogul.
The rest of the gang at Pawnee City Hall also go through major character development, all leading to a happily ever after. Here's what happens in the series finale of Parks and Recreation!
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Disclaimer: All opinions in this article belong solely to the writer. Spoilers for season 7 of Parks and Recreation ahead!
What happens to Leslie and the Parks and Recreation crew in the show's series finale?
Leslie Knope climbs the career ladder
In season 7, Leslie has it all: a solid career, a loving marriage with Ben (Adam Scott), triplets... and a huge vengeance against Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman). The final season of Parks and Recreation opens after a 2-year cold war between the two once-friends over Ron's company demolishing Ann's house. They eventually patch up in a couple of episodes.
Through the season, Leslie continues to grow as a career-oriented woman on a quest to help the city she loves. Notably, she wins the bidding war for the large piece of Newport land by finding historic artifacts to classify it as government-owned by default.
Ben and Leslie's storyline in Parks and Recreation
The duo continued being "power couple goals" through the final season of Parks and Recreation. Ben runs for the House of Representatives, with his campaign led by Jennifer Barkley (Kathryn Hahn). The show flashes forward to 2018, and Leslie gets a job at the Department of the Interior. The couple moves to Washington, D.C., to grow their careers.
In the series finale, Ben and Leslie say goodbye to Pawnee and their beloved colleagues in the building after spending one last day together. Through time jumps, fans see glimpses of their lives. Ben wins the Indiana seat in the House of Representatives. In 2025, the couple gets to run for Governor of Indiana. This time, Ben steps back and lets Leslie have the spotlight, and she wins, with him as her campaign manager.
In an ambiguous but clever ending for their storyline, Parks and Recreation produces a final flash forward trick: It is the year 2048, and either Ben or Leslie might be the President of the United States. Fans are left guessing who.
Amidst their high-stakes careers, Ben also creates a sequel to his board game called "Cones of Dunshire: The Winds of Tremorrah". Leslie turns down naming a library in her honor, comically showing her long-standing grudge.
Ron Swanson finds a fulfilling life at the end of Parks and Recreation
For most of Parks and Recreation season 7, Ron runs his building company, finding joy in the private sector after working decades in government. However, he reveals to Leslie after their fallout and eventual patch up, that he left the Parks department because he looked around and realized none of his colleagues ( aka workplace proximity associates) worked with him anymore.
Ron's marriage to Diana and his kids are mentioned in passing in the season. When Leslie accuses Gryzzl of data mining, Ron is initially unperturbed as the reigning king of "none of my business". However, when his son John receives a "GryzzlBox", Ron realizes he needs to step up and take Gryzzl down. They messed with the wrong, extremely private libertarian!
In the series finale, Ron asks Leslie for a more fulfilling job in a flash-forward scene in 2022. Leslie waves a wand and grants him his wish. He is seen patrolling as the Superintendent of Pawnee National Park, the same land they fought over at the beginning of the season.
Andy and April become parents in Parks and Recreation
Andy and April move to Washington, D.C. with Ben and Leslie. Andy (Chris Pratt) wants to be a father, while April (Aubrey Plaza) needs more coaxing. After talking to Leslie, April feels better about motherhood, and the couple have a child named Jack on Halloween. In a flash-forward scene, when the gang reunites at Pawnee City Hall, they announce that April is pregnant with their second child.
Do Chris and Ann come back to Pawnee?
One of the show's main couples, Chris (Rob Lowe) and Ann (Rashida Jones), leave Pawnee in season 6 and move to Michigan to start a family. But in the series finale, they decide to return and settle in Pawnee in 2025, just as Ben and Leslie move back during her run for Governor. The two women are ecstatic to be back in each other's lives again, and conspire to get their teenage kids, Oliver and Sonia, to date each other.
What happens to Donna, Tom, and the rest of the cast?
Donna (Retta) finds love in season 7 of Parks and Recreation. After a fun-filled wedding, she settles into married life with Joe (Keegan-Michael Key), and Donna's real estate business is thriving in Michigan in the time skip to 2022. When Joe loses his teaching job due to budget cuts, she works with April to create an online tutorial program called "Teach Yo'Self" (A riff on her memorable dialogue "Treat Yo' Self.")
Tom becomes a restaurant mogul, then, due to a bad decision, loses all his money. But in typical Tom Haverford fashion, he picks himself up after a loss, writes a self-help book, and becomes a famous public speaker. Craig, who worked at Tom's restaurant, marries Typhoon, Donna, and Ron's hairdresser. Ron is the best man.
Whatever happened to Jerry/Garry/Terry/Barry/Larry Gergich?
As one of the show's longest-running gags, Jim O'Heir's character goes through multiple names in the seven seasons. He is often the comedic relief, but is nothing but nice to the rest of the gang, even though they could never get his name right.
But just like his impeccable personal life, with a beautiful wife and happy children, his character got a glamorous and fulfilling end. Garry Gergich goes from interim mayor to the city's longest-running and most loved Mayor, till his death at age 100 in 2048. Ben and Leslie (one of whom is POTUS) attend his funeral and notice his name is misspelled on the gravestone. One last gag for the afterlife, maybe?
Season 7 of Parks and Recreation focused on tying loose ends and giving characters a happy and wholesome ending. The show carried the theme of community, friendship, and joy till the end.
