In the episode, Jerry is apparently mugged, which forces his co-workers to be nicer to him, and prompts Leslie to seek stronger safety measures for the city's parks.
It also featured Mo Collins in her recurring guest role as Joan Callamezzo, host of the morning news program Pawnee Today.
Among audiences between ages 18 and 49, it experienced a slightly lower rating than the previous week's episode, "The Possum", in part due to competition from the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.
When Jerry returns, he acts particularly buffoonish during a slideshow presentation, and ends up farting and splitting his pants, but everyone holds back laughter at Leslie's request.
Leslie meets with Carl Lorthner, a park security ranger who is incredibly loud but oblivious to the fact.
Paul, the city manager, is angry over the television appearance, but informs Leslie the stunt worked and the mayor is offering $2,500 to help fix the park.
While at a press conference about the money, Jerry confesses to Leslie that he wasn't mugged: he dropped a breakfast burrito in a creek, then fell while trying to grab it and dislocated his shoulder.
As part of their deal to not show the tape, Leslie buys Carl a brand new security cart.
Samberg and Parks and Recreation star Amy Poehler previously appeared together as regular cast members in the NBC sketch comedy series, Saturday Night Live.
[7][12] Ann explains her proficiency during Ron's self-defense training courses results from her strong interest in female-centric original movies on the women's television network Lifetime.
[8] While describing how Tom would react to the news that Jerry dislocated his shoulder reaching for a breakfast burrito, Leslie said, "What would you do for a Klondike bar?
"[13] In its original American broadcast on March 18, 2010, "Park Safety" was seen by 4.7 million household viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.
[14] Although an increase in viewership over the 4.6 million household viewers of the previous episode, "The Possum",[15] "Park Safety" marked a five percent drop in the Nielsen rating itself.
Parks and Recreation outperformed a repeat of the CW supernatural–fantasy horror series The Vampire Diaries, which drew 1.49 million household viewers.
[7][8][10][13] Entertainment Weekly writer Sandra Gonzalez called "Park Safety" a great episode, and complimented the scenes involving Jerry and the growing romance between Andy and April.
[10] New York magazine writer Steve Kandell said "Park Safety" continued an ongoing development of the mythology of the Pawnee community, comparing it to "a live-action Springfield", the setting of the animated comedy series The Simpsons.
[9] Matt Fowler of IGN called Jerry's presentation "one of the best, most pointed moments of crude humor that we've ever seen on the show".
[12] Kona Gallagher of TV Squad said the constant mocking of Jerry made him feel uncomfortable, and that Samberg "just seemed like the personification of an SNL skit instead of a real character".
But Gallagher praised Ron Swanson's role in the episode, as well as the apparent rekindling of Ann's feelings for Andy.