The NBC comedy Parks and Recreation was known for its cast of colorful characters. Two of those characters was Deputy Director Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and her best friend Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones). For most of the series' run, Jones was a part of the main cast. But in Season 6, Jones' character left Parks and Recreation to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, leaving her best friend behind for a new life with Chris Traeger (played by Rob Lowe).
Ann would return as a guest star before the series ended. That didn't keep her her departure from being an emotional one for Leslie -- and the audience -- as their friendship was the bedrock of early seasons. Here's who Ann Perkins was and why Rashida Jones left Parks and Rec.
Who Was Ann Perkins on Parks and Recreation?
Ann Perkins was a nurse whose relationship with Leslie started off on rocky footing. When Parks and Recreation began, Ann was living with her goofy boyfriend Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt), who broke his foot in the massive pit next to Ann's house. This caused the nurse to confront Leslie and the Parks and Recreation staff during public meets as she advocated for filling in the pit. Leslie then took a personal interest in the situation, and she and Ann quickly became best friends.
Throughout the series, Ann worked closely with Leslie and the other Parks and Recreation members, often playing the straight man to their more zany personalities and adventures. She also had a few failed romances with overlooked city planner Mark Brendanawicz (Paul Schneider) and Parks Department employee Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari). She eventually met and fell for Chris, though their romance took time to find solid footing.
After some back and forth, Ann decided she wanted to become pregnant and asked Chris to father her child. When Chris was offered a job at the University of Michigan, Ann chose to move to Ann Arbor with him, since it allowed her to be closer to her family. Leslie threw a goodbye party for her friend and turns the lot that used to be the pit into the Pawnee Commons. She and Ann had an emotional farewell, with Ann promising that Leslie would always be her best friend.
Why Did Rashida Jones Leave Parks and Rec?
According to Parks & Recreation's showrunners, it was planned for Ann and Chris to leave the series simultaneously, as they felt both characters' stories had reached natural conclusions. Executive producer Mike Schur revealed that the decision was mutual and would allow both actors to explore new career paths. In an interview with HuffPost, Schur made it clear everyone was on the same page when it came to Jones and Lowe's departures. "We had the idea creatively to sort of move in that direction, and it totally dovetailed and aligned with what the two actors envisioned for themselves in their careers. So it's a big, happy, mutual hug-fest celebration," he explained.
Jones echoed Schur's praise, tweeting "I will love this department forever." She moved on to focus not only on acting, but writing and producing as well. Though Jones left the show, Ann Perkins would continue to play an integral role, returning briefly after the birth of her and Chris's son Oliver in the Season 6 episode "Galentine's Day." Jones also guest-starred in the series finale and reunion special that aired during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parks & Recreation is now streaming on Peacock.