NEW YORK - NBC's "Parks and Recreation" is losing two of its cast members.

Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones will leave the series after the 13th episode of the upcoming sixth season.

They play characters Chris Traeger and Ann Perkins.

The news was first reported by Buzzfeed.

In an emailed statement from the show's Executive Producer Mike Schur, he said, "Heading into this year, with the two of them contemplating parenthood, it felt like the natural time to move them into the next phase."

On "Parks and Rec," Lowe and Jones' characters dated on-and-off and have decided to try to have a baby together.