Based on a 2001 conceptual study funded by Western Diversification, which the City, Ladco Company Limited (a land developer), and SOS all participated in, it was proposed to create an interpretive center, walking trails, and canoe launches in and around the Bois-des-Esprits. The majority of the forest paralleling south St. Anne's Road was Grade A habitat— virtually undisturbed with a maximum sensitivity to disturbance.

The province owned 37% of the land, while Ladco owned 63% of the land. In the early 2000s, housing lots were selling at a fever pitch, and Ladco was eager to cash in on the planned south St. Vital neighbourhood of Royalwood.

On April 1, 2002, Ladco began bulldozing a huge swath through the forest to allow surveyors access to the site of an intended future bridge. SOS was incensed, as the site had not yet received approval for development. When informed by the City that they required authorization, Ladco's bulldozers were momentarily halted.

​

SOS, then led by president Bev Sawchuk, aimed to purchase the land to protect it from development, with a price tag pegged at $2.8 million. SOS met with the City, who agreed to contribute $1.6 million and challenged SOS to raise the remaining funds needed. SOS contacted hundreds of corporations and foundations across Canada, made presentations, attended many meetings, and launched a postcard campaign (including breathtaking pictures of the forest) in which members of the community were encouraged to indicate their support for the preservation of Bois-des-Esprits by mailing the postcards to the premier of Manitoba.

​

SOS was successful in raising $110,000 from the community, and Ladco contributed $213,000. By the end of 2003, 66 acres had been protected. Just over a year later in early 2005, City Council confirmed that the entire 82 acres had been saved from destruction, thanks also in part to a contribution of $930,000 from the Province.

Now that the land had been preserved, it was time to work on a management plan. Under president Tammy Rutherford, and in conjunction with the City of Winnipeg, Province of Manitoba, Ladco, SLMcleod Consulting, and HTFC Planning & Design, a massive study was undertaken to determine the quality of the land, identify sites suitable for trails, classify the ecosystems, and catalogue the wildlife in the forest.

The management plan was completed in 2008 (available here) and construction on a trail network began soon after. Care was taken in locating and building the trails to minimize the number of trees removed and avoid damage to nearby standing trees.