As a parent I foresaw that I would make acquaintances with others who go to the park, or live on the street. So far we exchange polite pleasantries but there's just nothing beyond that. It should be unsurprising, the prospect of any change in routine is more uncomfortable and daunting when you're a busy parent, and friendship invites more overhead. There are friends I made after moving to a city that I barely want to see now, mostly because there wasn't enough in common in the first place.
Strategy wise if you're unattached and have free time, making commutes to events and planned activities is still a more effective way to make friends.
You’re probably right, since both of my siblings with children have said the same. That being said, it’s more about “living close to your existing friends” rather than “how to make friends in your area”. The latter deserves its own discussion too, as I think it’s not that easy.
Friendships are overhead. If you don't make regular effort to cultivate them, they wither and die. That takes time, and involves tradeoffs or impositions on other things you might want or need to do.
The question is whether the benefits are worth it.
Hence why less is more. You can have strong bonds with select few friends, but this can be lonelier if social time is limited, as it can be in adulthood.
Strategy wise if you're unattached and have free time, making commutes to events and planned activities is still a more effective way to make friends.