Abstract: A pier for a modular, portable, interlocking decking system, the pier having a generally planar plate with a bottom surface and a top surface and a plurality of receiver blocks extending from the top surface of the plate. Each receiver block has a generally dome-shaped load-bearing surface. A plurality of piers is used in a decking system along with at least one surface pad, the surface pad having a generally planar, horizontal upper surface, and a lower portion including a plurality of block receptacles. The bottom surface of the plate of each structural pier rests upon a supporting surface, and the block receptacles of the surface pad each engage the generally dome-shaped load-bearing surface of a corresponding structural pier.