Leslie Barbara Knope ( NOHP) is a fictional character, and the main protagonist of the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. She is portrayed by Amy Poehler. For most of the show's run, she serves as Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation Department of the fictional city of Pawnee, Indiana. An over-achiever, Knope believes the government should serve the people and is unceasingly optimistic about the potential of her role within it. Poehler's performance as her character has been nominated for several awards, winning a 2014 Golden Globe.