Many of us have been critical of local officials for a lack of leadership and results on economic development issues — and rightfully so in most instances.

There are only so many ways to measure economic success, and, to date, there are few examples we can point to that would indicate we are making strides toward economic growth and recovery. Therefore, I think the criticism has, for the most part, been fair and justified.

In fairness, I disclose that I have been, and continue to be, one of those critics. I question whether we have the leadership in place to tackle the enormity of the challenge that lies ahead of us.

I question whether we have turned over every stone. I also question why communities all around us have been able to announce some type of economic development deal in the last year or two, yet we wait for our first.

I think those are fair criticisms and concerns.

But here’s where criticism, generally speaking, stops being fair; the worst kind of criticism, the kind that just rubs me raw, is that which comes from a critic who tells you you’re performing poorly, but is unable to offer one single idea on how to do it better. Make no mistake, they’ll do it better, but they just can’t tell you how.

I think if we are going to criticize our local leaders for failing to produce results in the realm of economic development, we should be prepared to offer up some ideas or solutions ourselves. Big ideas. Small ideas. It doesn’t matter. Going back to last week’s column, if you want to be in the apple business, you’ll have to start from seed if you can’t afford to transplant trees.

So to avoid falling into the same category with those critics who offer up their criticisms but never any solutions, I’m going to risk public ridicule and share an idea I’ve had for quite some time and have referenced previously in this column. It definitely falls into the apple seed category, but I think it’s worth looking into.

I think we should build some ball fields in downtown Franklin.

I know, just hear me out.

Every summer, we suit our kids up, load them in the car, and haul them out of town for baseball and softball tournaments. We send them, their parents and their parents’ money as well, all over Southeastern Virginia and beyond to play in baseball and softball tournaments. And when they’re gone, they’re buying meals in restaurants and shopping in malls and doing all sorts of stuff with their money instead of spending it here at home.

Well, what if kids and their parents and their parents’ money came to Franklin from all over Southeastern Virginia and beyond to play their weekend baseball and softball tournaments, right here in Franklin?

There would be meals to buy in between and after games. There would be shopping to do in between and after games. Money and time would be spent right here in downtown Franklin by kids and parents who don’t live or spend here.

You know who else likes to watch the kids play ball? Their grandparents. What if the grandparents came and bought meals and shopped in between and after games, and in the meantime realized we had a YMCA and a country club and a community college, all in a quiet and affordable environment? Maybe some would decide this is be a pretty nice place to retire.

We’d probably have to open a few more businesses downtown. Maybe an ice cream parlor or movie theater if a game gets rained out. Maybe a couple stores to service the new traffic downtown. And the existing retailers would probably have to plan on hiring a new sales associate or two.

There’s open space near Barrett’s Landing, and I think it would be an ideal location for a ball field complex. It would be a great use of space that is just sitting, and ball fields are relatively flood proof if we were to have another 500-year flood.

That’s my idea — or one of them anyway. Yes, I know it won’t replace 1,200 jobs. But it’s a start.

And like all apple seeds, if it got planted and watered, it could grow. We need more ideas. If you have an idea, share it with me. And if you don’t mind, I’ll share your ideas right here in this column and give you the credit for them. Unless it’s a really good … then all bets are off.