In the late 1950s, the Northern Virginia Planning District Commission and citizens from several local jurisdictions joined to protect Northern Virginia's woods, meadows, lakes, and streams from suburban sprawl. Working with their local governments, they organized under state legislation in 1959 as the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority to plan, acquire, develop, and operate a system of regional parks for all Northern Virginians to enjoy. Today the authority represents three counties and three cities—Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, City of Alexandria, City of Falls Church, and City of Fairfax—and through the work of its staff, volunteer board members appointed from each jurisdiction, and many friends of the regional parks, more than 11,000 acres of rolling and wooded Virginia countryside have been preserved as a legacy for future generations.