Friends of Pinecrest Gardens

Founded in 2020, Friends of Pinecrest Gardens is the official 501(c)3 dedicated to raising funds and awareness to support horticultural research, education offerings, historic preservation, and cultural programming. Its mission is to support, advance and help develop cultural and environmental projects, programs, and other initiatives at Pinecrest Gardens, and to provide a mechanism for private contributions, grants, and funding. With performing arts, fine art, eco-art and environmental education at its core, it will help to grow audiences with a focus on diversity, inclusivity and affordability.

Bringing the Birds Home

Honoring Our Past. Inspiring Future Generations.

Pinecrest Gardens sits on the original site of Parrot Jungle, founded in 1936. For nearly 70 years, generations of South Florida families walked these paths and met the birds that made it famous. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

When Parrot Jungle relocated in 2003 (later becoming Jungle Island), many of the same bird species stayed in its care — some tracing their roots directly to the original Parrot Jungle era. For over two decades, visitors have asked when the birds will return. Now, as Jungle Island plans for its animals' futures, some of these birds need permanent homes — and Pinecrest Gardens can offer one, in the place their story began.

Backed by a completed feasibility study, we're building naturalistic, enrichment-based aviary habitats for a curated collection of 20–30 birds, alongside new education and conservation programming for students, families and visitors.

The campaign: $1,000,000 total — $750,000 for aviary construction and renovation, $250,000 to endow the birds' lifelong care. The Village of Pinecrest has committed $200,000 in matching capital funds, leaving $550,000 to raise privately by May 2027. No tax dollars fund the birds' care or operations — this project runs entirely on private philanthropy, grants and community support.

Gifts to Bringing the Birds Home are made through Friends of Pinecrest Gardens, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving as fiscal agent for the campaign.