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Flag Football Near Wilkinsburg and Homewood: Thursday Nights in Swissvale or Friday Nights at Mellon Park

Writer: Rashad Colvin
Rashad Colvin
6 hours ago
4 min read

Families in Wilkinsburg and Homewood sit between two Pittsburgh NFL League fields: Thursday nights at Dickson in Swissvale and Friday nights at Mellon Park in the East End. Both locations are new for Spring 2027, both are coed for ages 7 to 14, and both give your child the full PNL experience. This guide lays out the two options side by side so you can pick the one that fits your family.

The short answer

For most Wilkinsburg families, Swissvale is the closest PNL field. For most Homewood families, Mellon Park is the closest. The two sites are near enough to each other that the right choice often comes down to which night works better in your house, not which field is a few minutes closer.

Option 1: Thursday nights in Swissvale

Games are played at Dickson Elementary (Dickson Prep STEAM Academy), 7301 Schoyer Avenue, Swissvale, PA 15218. Dickson is right next door to Edgewood, Regent Square and Rankin, and it is the closest PNL field for Wilkinsburg, Forest Hills, Braddock, North Braddock, Turtle Creek and East Pittsburgh.

  • Game night: Thursdays

  • Divisions: coed 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U

  • Opening week: Thursday, April 1, 2027

  • First game: Thursday, April 22

Thursday is a good fit if your Fridays are already full, or if you like to get game night done early so Friday and the weekend stay open. See the Swissvale location page for more.

Option 2: Friday nights at Mellon Park

Games are played at Mellon Park, 1047 Shady Avenue (Fifth and Shady), Pittsburgh, PA 15232. Mellon Park is the closest PNL field for Homewood, Larimer, East Liberty, Point Breeze, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill and the rest of the East End.

  • Game night: Fridays

  • Divisions: coed 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U

  • Opening week: Friday, April 2, 2027

  • First game: Friday, April 23

Friday is a good fit if your weeknights are packed with homework and other activities and you would rather end the week at the field. See the Mellon Park location page, or read our guide to Friday nights at Mellon Park.

How to decide

  • Which night is calmer at home? That usually matters more than a few minutes of driving.

  • Where do your child's friends play? Teams are built through the PNL Live Draft so every team is balanced, but friends at the same site still see each other every week.

  • Do you have a younger child or a daughter who wants a girls team? Rookie 6U and the All-Girls League (10U, 14U and HS Girls) play only on Saturdays at Linton Middle School in Penn Hills. One child can play at Swissvale or Mellon Park during the week while another plays at Linton on Saturday.

You choose one location when you register. Both sites are part of the same league, play by the same rules and finish at the same playoffs.

What is the same at both sites

Swissvale and Mellon Park are in their founding season, but both run on everything Pittsburgh NFL League has built since 2004. PNL is the only league in Pennsylvania ever named NFL FLAG League of the Year.

  • Every player is drafted onto an NFL-branded team at the PNL Live Draft on Thursday and Friday of the third week of April.

  • Teams play official 5 on 5 NFL FLAG rules. PNL provides the jersey and flag belt.

  • Live scores, standings, stats and player profiles are in PNL GameDay.

  • Playoffs are on Saturday at Linton Middle School in Penn Hills, with every PNL location.

  • Every PNL player can try out for Pittsburgh Elite travel flag football.

No experience is needed. Coaches teach the game from the first practice. Field details and parking tips go out to registered families before week 1 at both sites. Divisions are based on your child's age as of August 1, 2026.

Cost and the NFL FLAG Grant

Registration is $145, and the first 50 players across all four PNL locations pay $135. You can pay in full, or put $45 down and pay the rest in monthly or biweekly payments.

Families with a household income under $83,730 whose player is enrolled in Medicaid, SNAP or WIC can apply for the NFL FLAG Grant. A parent or guardian applies directly with RCX Sports by March 10, 2027, and approved funds are sent to PNL. Our financial assistance page has more options. Nobody should sit out because of cost.

Spring 2027 at a glance

  • Opening week: Swissvale Thursday, April 1. Mellon Park Friday, April 2. Penn Hills Saturday, April 3. Boyce Park Sunday, April 4.

  • PNL Live Draft: Thursday and Friday of the third week of April

  • First games: Penn Hills Saturday, April 17. Boyce Park Sunday, April 18. Swissvale Thursday, April 22. Mellon Park Friday, April 23.

  • Playoffs: Saturday at Linton Middle School in Penn Hills

  • Price: $145, or $135 for the first 50 registrations league-wide

  • Payment plans: $45 down, then monthly or biweekly payments

  • Age cutoff: August 1, 2026

  • NFL FLAG Grant deadline: March 10, 2027

  • Registration closes: March 31, 2027

Ready to pick your night? Register for Spring 2027 and choose Swissvale or Mellon Park as your location.

 
 
 

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