During the early 1900s, Miami pioneer and railroad tycoon Henry Flagler used the property at US-1 and Southwest 102nd street as a staging area during the construction of the Overseas Railroad to the Florida Keys. Pinecrest was also home to the famous Parrot Jungle, now Pinecrest Gardens. Today the Village of Pinecrest is recognized by the South Florida Business Journal as one of the ten best places in Florida for "quality of life." Pinecrest is nationally recognized as a Tree City USA, and was awarded the Tree City 2022 Growth Award for continuous efforts to improve their urban forestry program and protecting tree canopy. Most recently, the Village was recognized as the top place to live in South Florida by Niche, and in 2022 the Pinecrest Farmers Market was voted Best Farmers Market by the Miami New Times. Pinecrest is best known for homes on oversized lots and streets lined by mature trees and lush foliage.