Welcome to 52 Faces<\/strong><\/p>\n 52 Faces of Community<\/a> is a Fort Worth Report weekly series spotlighting local unsung heroes. It is sponsored by Central Market<\/a>, H-E-B<\/a> and JPS Health Network<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the end of the year, these rarely recognized heroes will gather for a luncheon where the Report will announce one honoree to represent Tarrant County at the Jefferson Awards in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n West Meadowbrook has been Phipps\u2019 home for 27 years \u2014 part of the reason why he works to beautify the area.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of it goes down to keeping up what\u2019s going on in the neighborhood,\u201d the 66-year-old said. \u201cWhether its board of adjustments, building standards, anything to do with safety.\u201d<\/p>\n ENJOY READING THE NEWS AGAIN<\/strong><\/p>\n Discover refreshing, nonpartisan<\/strong> reporting on stories happening in your backyard.<\/p>\n Among his accomplishments, Phipps launched an East Lancaster Task Force to address crime after residents on McLean Street asked for assistance. Phipps worked with city staff and Fort Worth police to address issues such as drug dealing, vagrancy and prostitution.<\/p>\n \u201cBetween the prostitutes and the open drug use, that\u2019s what really started it,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The task force addressed apartment complexes where people were selling drugs, including methamphetamine and fentanyl, Phipps said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had successes in some places, and we had roadblocks in other places,\u201d Phipps said. \u201cOverall, it gives us the opportunity to meet with the police department to try to figure things out.\u201d<\/p>\n Know an unsung hero in Tarrant County?<\/p>\n Tell us about them by filling out the form below. <\/p>\n Carol Peters, president of the West Meadowbrook Neighborhood Association, said Phipps is involved in every aspect of improving the area.<\/p>\n \u201cIn his role as a small-business owner, he is out and about tending to animals,\u201d Peters wrote in an email about Phipps. \u201cHe owns a pet sitting business. Mike observes bad behavior by neglectful landowners, code violations, littering, and traffic and parking violations every day. He documents them all, reports them, and never lets them fall through the cracks.\u201d<\/p>\n Phipps worked with Fort Worth police to raise $10,000 to replace an older woman\u2019s fence in December 2024, Peters said.<\/p>\n \u201cHomeless people and drug users had used her wooden backyard fence as fuel for fires, leaving her home vulnerable to break-ins,\u201d Peters said. \u201cMore than 60 volunteers and $10,000 in donations ended her misery. A metal fence, tree trimming, and general cleanup refreshed and protected her property. Mike is a true example of giving back.\u201d<\/p>\n On a recent weekday, Phipps was taking care of another neighborhood issue. He came across three puppies that had been dumped in West Meadowbrook and worked to make sure they were cared for before calling animal control and police to rescue the trio.<\/p>\n Phipps, who lives with his partner of 42 years, also works to maintain West Meadowbrook\u2019s beautification efforts. He is involved in the Trash Talkers group that regularly picks up litter in the neighborhood.\u00a0<\/p>\n He recently helped line Normandy Road with a mix of 51 free trees \u2014 Mexican buckeye, desert willows, redbuds, elms and pecans \u2014 all from the city\u2019s forestry program. He went door to door to explain to neighbors where to plant, watering needs and arranged to dig holes for planting.<\/p>\n \u201cYou just don\u2019t want to lose your curb appeal,\u201d said Phipps, a native of Clarksville, Pennsylvania. \u201cOtherwise, it looks unevolved. You have to think about the future \u2014 you want to leave it better than how you found it.\u201d<\/p>\n Phipps is a frequent advocate of West Meadowbrook at City Hall. He often attends meetings about building standards, zoning adjustments, and rezoning and abatement issues. He supports projects that benefit the area as well as testifying about irresponsible property owners.<\/p>\n \u201cI think (city officials) see it as if you\u2019re willing to sit there and play out the day until your time comes to speak on behalf of your neighborhood, they\u2019re willing to listen more,\u201d he said. \u201cI think being present before a committee, it speaks with more volume.\u201d<\/p>\n Peters said Phipps \u201calmost single-handedly resolved countless problems with dilapidated properties, gaps in (police) patrols, and massive illegal dump sites.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMike is our example of how to be a good citizen, working closely with elected officials and staff to get results. His directory of contacts is vast and effective. Mike is tireless and persistent, a true champion of neighborhood improvement.\u201d<\/p>\n Carol Peters, president of the West Meadowbrook Neighborhood Association.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Eliminating crime and other issues will make his neighborhood safer, Phipps said.<\/p>\n \u201cUntil you see kids playing in their front yards or riding their bikes on the street in front of their house, I\u2019m not going to stop fighting for it,\u201d Phipps said. \u201cThe area has got to be returned to the people.\u201d<\/p>\n Eric E. Garcia is a senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n News decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tired of shouting? Help us bring facts into focus.<\/strong><\/p>\n There\u2019s no shortage of opinions out there, but facts are harder to come by. At the Fort Worth Report, we deliver local reporting grounded in truth so that you can make informed decisions for yourself and your community.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"52](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1752362050_511_52-faces-transparent-2.png\"){kind=spacer}
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Volunteers in the West Meadowbrook area raised $10,000 to replace a senior citizen\u2019s fence that had been destroyed by vagrants. (Courtesy photo | Mike Phipps)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0710-52FacesMike-MC-02.jpg\")
More than 50 trees line Normandy Road on July 10, 2025, in Fort Worth. Mike Phipps helped plant the trees after getting permission and planning out distances from driveways and power lines. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n\n
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