[AGWhitehouse]

If the pool is a sand bottom, I would re-think the 2'-0" bearing points. you will be putting hundreds of pounds of loading within 2'-0" of the edge of you pool. The pool walls may not be designed to handle that kind of direct loading. It may be worth putting the load point at least as far from the edge as the pool is deep. This will allow your loading point to dissipate in a triangular shape that doesn't include your pool wall.

Railings are a good idea, you don't want that expanding dance circle to include people stepping off backwards...ouch...