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Painting the town - and yourself

By Lauren Wolfe | Special to amNewYork

May 26, 2006

While opportunities to play paintball are limited in the city, there are plenty of places nearby.

The reason there are so few places in the city is liability, said Alex Journet, manager of the paintball section of Stingray Divers of Williamsburgh.

He said that while it's not impossible to run a paintball business in the five boroughs, city insurance costs make it exorbitantly expensive to do so.

"Insurance is the biggest problem. It's kind of expensive, and the liability is tough," Journet says. "There are some indoor fields in the city area, but if it's run right, it's run more as a private place."

Some New Yorkers play on "phantom fields," illegal but commonly-known parks and playgrounds, such as Highland Park or Cunningham Park, where "if you don't bother anybody, people will usually not bother you," Journet says.

IN THE CITY

Cousins Paintball
2727 Arthur Kill Road
Staten Island 10309 (718) 227-1400 This is New York City's first and only paintball field. Ages 10 and older only. Ages 10-17 must have medical release form signed by a parent. The complex includes 20 acres of paintball fields and a pro shop. Hours: Saturday, Sunday: 8:30 am -4 pm. Prices start at $49.99 per person. For more information, go to www.sipaintball.com

Shoot the Freak
On the Coney Island Boardwalk near Stillwell Avenue
For a more one-sided paintball experience, check out Coney Island's popular boardwalk attraction. Players shoot a live human target -- "The Freak" -- with air-powered paintball rifles. Prices range from 5 shots for $3 to 75 shots for $20. Click here for interview with "the freak"

LONG ISLAND

Cousin's Paintball
114 Parkway Drive South
Hauppauge, N.Y. 11788
(800) FLAG-007
http://www.playpaintball.com

High Velocity Paintball
235 South Fehr Way