Any recommendations on where we might visit to see who our new neighbors would be if we were to live there?

For example, here in North Mission Hills, (not North Park) I’ve met a lot of my neighbors in Pioneer Park, there is a playground for kids and a lot of people walk their dogs there too.

Also, is there a sort of greenbelt area in Rancho San Diego? Is there a neighborhood where are we likely to find house/property with more green and usable land as opposed to the rockier, more sloped, drier areas?

I would like to rent in the area before buying, but there doesn’t seem to be much for rent in the area that is similar to what we would buy…the places on craigslist are small lots, smaller homes or apartments.