Parker Posey , who previously worked with Amy Poehler on the 2009 comedy film '' Spring Breakdown '' , described herself as a fan of both Poehler and '' Parks and Recreation '' , and had wanted to make a guest appearance on the series even before it first aired . Posey discussed it with Poehler at the '' Spring Breakdown '' premiere during the 2009 Sundance Film Festival in January 2009 , a few months before the first season of '' Parks '' debuted . She later met with the staff of the show about one year before " Eagleton " was filmed . After several months without an invitation to appear on the show , Posey said she became frustrated and stopped watching the show , but later changed her mind and started watching it again . Shortly after that , she received an e-mail message from Poehler inviting her to play Lindsay Carlisle Shay : " She said , ' You 'll play my nemesis ! We get to fight in a garbage dump ! ' " Posey said . " I remember reading that and thinking , ' Dreams do come true . ' " Posey was sent a script for " Eagleton " and enjoyed it so much she immediately agreed to play the part . She also said she was excited to work with director Nicole Holofcener . The episode was filmed in November 2010 . Posey was shooting scenes for a film in Boston at the time , and flew into Los Angeles for the '' Parks and Recreation '' filming just a few hours before the shots began . As a result , Posey was exhausted during the filming , including the Eagleton public forum scene , which was shot at the Toluca Lake Sports Center in Toluca Lake district of Los Angeles . The scene in which Leslie and Lindsay fight among piles of garbage was filmed during temperatures of more than 100 degrees . Although stuntwomen were used , Poehler and Posey performed some of the fight themselves . Despite wearing wool blazers that made the heat even harder to endure , the two actresses said they enjoyed filming the scene . Poehler jokingly said it was included in the script " just because it 's in Parker and I 's contract , that that 's how we will work together . It 's the only way we 'll work together , is fighting in garbage . " The staff of '' Parks and Recreation '' conceived the idea that Ron Swanson had his birthdate redacted from all government documents early in the development of the series , and it eventually developed into the subplot featured in " Eagleton " where Leslie finds out about his birthday and plans a surprise for him . Michael Schur , co-creator of the series , said the scene when Leslie surprises Ron with a quiet evening alone was his favorite scene in the show . During the scene , Leslie and Ron declare their mutual admiration for one another . Schur said it was difficult to make such an outwardly emotional scene effective in a comedy , but he believed it ultimately worked because of Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman 's strong performances . Poehler said of the scene : " It 's really sweet and it 's just an example of how it 's important to Leslie who she works with . It 's just as important as the job itself . I completely relate to that . " Rashida Jones also praised the scene , which she said made her cry during a cast read-through of the script
2009 Sundance Film Festival
2009 Sundance Film Festival
Eagleton (Parks and Recreation)