New Mexico State Parks Division director Tommy Mutz says there currently isn't enough money to make Pecos Canyon a state park.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that state officials won't consider raising park fees that haven't seen an increase since 1998 and won't ask lawmakers for money out of the state's budget.
Two years ago, lawmakers and then-Gov. Bill Richardson signed off on a proposal to create the park.
But when Richardson had money on hand to put toward the park, he diverted it to a proposed wild horse park south of Santa Fe that never materialized.
Pecos Canyon is suffering from limited maintenance.
Trash bins at several camping and picnic sites in the canyon area are overflowing at the end of summer weekends.