<Tr> <Td> Craig Middlebrooks </Td> <Td> Billy Eichner </Td> <Td_colspan="5"> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> Starring </Td> </Tr> <P> Each of the following primary characters were played by members of the Parks and Recreation regular cast, rather than guest stars or non-regular supporting cast members . </P> <P> Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) is the deputy director of the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department, and the protagonist of Parks and Recreation . Leslie is a passionate, hard - working and ambitious woman who loves her hometown of Pawnee and, unlike many around her, has not lost her optimism in the face of government bureaucracy . She believes strongly in the mission of her job, sometimes going over-the - top in her dedication to helping people . Her dream is to become the first female President of the United States . During the first two seasons, Leslie seeks to turn a construction pit into a park, despite several government obstacles and red tape . When the parks department is hindered by Pawnee's budget problems, Leslie successfully relaunches the town's harvest festival, which makes her department sustainable again . The third season ends with political scouts approaching her about possibly running for elected office, although she declines to inform them of her secret affair with Ben Wyatt, which could prove to be a political scandal . In season four, Leslie furthers her political ambitions when she successfully runs for city council . Season 5 focused mainly on Leslie's experiences on the Pawnee City Council . In season six, however, she is recalled and returns full - time to work in the Parks and Recreation department . </P> <P> Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) is the parks and recreation director, although he allows Leslie to do almost all the real work in the department . Despite working in a government job, Ron is a steadfast libertarian who believes in as little government as possible and feels the parks department should not even run or maintain parks . He advocates for program cuts wherever possible, actively works to make city hall less effective, and especially detests interacting with Pawnee taxpayers . Nevertheless, Ron has a deep respect for Leslie and genuinely cares about his fellow employees, despite his efforts to hide it . Ron has a deadpan, inexpressive personality, and loves meat, hunting and breakfast foods . He has two ex-wives, both named Tammy, both of whom he hates . Ron Swanson has been praised as the show's breakout character, and some of his traits were based on elements of Offerman's real - life personality, like their shared affinity for woodworking and saxophone - playing . </P>

Who are the actors in parks and recreation