Check-It Secret Garden

A collaborative design-build project for Check-It! Enterprises and the Go-Go Museum, transforming a tucked-away lot into a cultural venue for celebration, belonging, and youth leadership.

For years, Check-It! Enterprises has been a cornerstone of empowerment and safe space-making for LGBTQ+ youth in Washington, D.C. The Go-Go Museum’s Secret Garden builds on that legacy—creating a venue where people gather, dance, and celebrate the rhythms that define the city.

The Secret Garden is built from the ground up for—and with—the community. A repurposed shipping container serves as an event kitchen. Concrete pads mimic the beat of go-go drums. Benches and the now-iconic bucket wall create spaces to sit, share, and take it all in. Every element, from material choices to layout, honors the rhythm and resilience of D.C.and its music: Go-Go.

At the garden’s heart stands the Go-Go Bucket Wall—a dynamic art installation built in collaboration with Oasis, a local youth development program.

Crafted from over 200 repurposed buckets, the wall was designed and constructed with the young people of Oasis, celebrating D.C.’s cultural legacy while showcasing the creativity and promise of its next generation.

The Secret Garden is more than a venue. It’s a testament to the shared commitment of Check-It! and Oasis to fostering safe, skill-building spaces where youth can find belonging, express themselves, and contribute meaningfully to their communities—leaving a lasting impact for generations to come.

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